In today’s blog we hear from Natasha Rego, the founder of Chateez who discusses the inspiration behind her organisation and what they hope to achieve.

Before I discuss Chateez in detail, I’d like to explain the inspiration behind it and the problem it hopes to solve.

The problem

Social media sites like Facebook, Snapchat and WhatsApp tend to dominate the way a lot of us communicate these days – and these sites are particularly popular among teenagers.

Now, social media can have several benefits. For instance, research shows that younger people are more at ease talking to their peers on their smart phones via social media than they are in a face-to-face setting, and it can help build stronger relationships, too.

However, social media can also pose a major problem: it is a further barrier to the way we communicate, especially among younger people.

The solution?

As a youth worker, I couldn’t fail to notice the growing trend for young people to be practically glued to their phones checking their social media accounts, which made communicating with them effectively a real challenge.

It became apparent to me that I needed to find a fresh way to spark conversation and engage with the young people I worked with. And It occurred to me that there’s one language teenagers are familiar with from their extensive use of social media: the emoji. With plenty of input of the young people I worked with, the concept of Chateez cards was born

What is Chateez?

Chateez cards are a modern twist on the flashcard. Every card features an emoji, which is designed to spark conversation and to encourage people to open up about their feelings. They have been designed to be visually appealing, and they are also versatile and flexible, which gives them a broad range of uses.

Best of all, Chateez cards achieve what I intended: they make talking so much easier, and they’ve certainly proved to be a conversation starter among many of those who have used them.

As I’ve previously explained, young people were the primary inspiration behind the cards, but they are just as suitable for use with children and adults. And I’ve received awesome feedback from a diverse range of users, including child psychologists, mental health charities, parents and fellow youth workers.

The key benefits of Chateez cards

• They spark conversation, providing young people with the opportunity to talk about how they are really feeling.
• They break down barriers, while using a common ‘language’ that is well-known to most of us – emojis.
• They can be used to diffuse conflict/situations peacefully by encouraging conversation.
• They are engaging and help to create a comfortable setting, which makes talking easier.

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