Cognitive Skills
- critical thinking;
- creativity;
- organisation of thought;
- text interpretation and analysis;
- argumentation;
- creative problem-solving.
Offer Expansion: CRIA[R]TIVOS
Write. Feel. Tell. Transform.
CRIA[R]TIVOS Project
The name CRIA[R]TIVOS captures the essence of the programme. By highlighting the letter R, it conveys that creating also means reflecting, reinterpreting, rewriting and transforming.
The name CRIA[R]TIVOS captures the essence of the programme. By highlighting the letter R, it conveys that creating also means reflecting, reinterpreting, rewriting and transforming.
Writing is understood not only as an end product, but as a continuous process of discovery, building thought and engaging with the community.
The programme is organised into three complementary workshops covering different dimensions of writing:
- Writing to Feel — Poetry, Lyric and Poetics
- Writing to Tell — Creative Writing
- Writing to Transform — Youth Opinion
The speed of digital communication, the constant consumption of short content and declining reading and creative writing habits have contributed to difficulties in organising thoughts, arguing, being creative and expressing emotions and opinions.
Although writing is a skill that runs through academic and professional life, it is often seen merely as a tool for school assessment, rather than as a tool for personal development, critical reflection and civic participation.
The CRIA[R]TIVOS programme responds to this need through a set of workshops that use different forms of writing to stimulate critical thinking, creativity, communication and community involvement.
Without educational responses of this kind, difficulties in written expression, building well-founded opinions, argumentation and young people's active participation in society are likely to persist, running counter to the integral development goals championed by Geração Horizonte.
To promote creativity, communication skills, critical thinking and civic participation through writing, offering participants learning experiences that turn words into an instrument of expression, reflection and social action.
The programme aims to:
- develop writing skills across different text genres;
- stimulate creativity and imagination;
- promote critical thinking and intellectual autonomy;
- strengthen written and oral communication skills;
- encourage reflection on individual experiences and collective challenges;
- foster dialogue, active listening and collaboration among participants;
- promote civic participation through writing;
- bring young people closer to literature, artistic creation and cultural production.
Skills to Develop
Social and Emotional Skills
- emotional intelligence;
- empathy;
- active listening;
- self-knowledge;
- confidence;
- collaboration.
Communication Skills
- creative writing;
- written communication;
- oral communication;
- argumentative ability;
- adapting language to context.
Civic Skills
- active citizenship;
- social responsibility;
- community awareness;
- democratic participation;
- valuing diversity.
Wellbeing-related Skills
- emotional expression;
- self-esteem;
- sense of belonging;
- creativity as a protective factor for wellbeing;
- personal development.
Expected Benefits
For participants
- improved writing skills;
- greater confidence in communication;
- development of critical thinking;
- greater creativity;
- stronger emotional expression;
- greater civic participation;
- development of skills useful for academic and professional life.
For the community
- more engaged young people;
- greater involvement in community causes;
- promotion of a writing culture;
- recognition of creativity as an instrument of citizenship;
- a Community Manifesto with proposals built by the participants.
Expected Outcomes
By the end of the programme, participants are expected to be able to:
- use different forms of writing as an instrument of expression and communication;
- structure ideas clearly and coherently;
- produce creative, narrative and argumentative texts;
- communicate well-founded opinions;
- reflect critically on individual and community challenges;
- collaborate in building a collective product that represents the group's voice.
Link to the Mission of the Geração Horizonte Academy
The CRIA[R]TIVOS programme fulfils the mission of the Geração Horizonte Academy by promoting an education that goes beyond passing on knowledge, developing cognitive, socio-emotional and civic skills through writing.
By encouraging creativity, intellectual autonomy, critical thinking, communication and community participation, the programme helps form young people able to understand reality, engage in constructive dialogue and make a positive difference in society, in line with Geração Horizonte's mission of educating young people capable of changing the world.
Our projects
Each project turns our vision of education into concrete experiences that make an impact on young people's lives
EVA — Out Loud
Media literacy and critical thinking through interactive sessions in schools.
Discover Project
VIRA
Spaces for communication, debate and civic participation for young people.
In development