Did you know that sympathy can  mean 'i am sorry for you while empathy means I am here for you?  
Empathy is connection, 
It's defined by Brene Brown as the ability to step into someone else's shoes and the ability to feel without judgment and take their perspective 

you must be able to connect with something in you that feels what the other person might be feeling.

Listen to Vicky Karuga of Profiles International and Mwihaki as they go into Empathy and Sympathy.