Emotion in motion

An annual laboratory course for teens from first and second grade secondary school, which aims to:

• promote high quality emotional education and act upon the psychophysical well-being of teens;
• discover new expressive languages ​​- theater, creative writing and material art – in a free and non-judgmental context;
• allow teens to make their voices heard, promoting exchanges between peers and with adults on socially relevant issues, such as environmental care and the protection of human rights.

The workshop is developed in various phases. Initially, teens are guided to get more in touch with their emotions and to express them through theatrical, artistic and creative writing experiences. Subsequently they are asked to identify a social issue – that is close to their interest and concerns them – and a nonprofit reality that focuses on it and that they would like to help. Finally, also through meetings dedicated to video making, the participants create artistic projects related to the social issue and a short video that can explain their project, the theme and the chosen reality to an adult audience.

The workshop is developed in about 30 meetings, of two hours each, with groups of up to 15 teens and can be proposed to schools and youth aggregation realities. The workshops are designed by a multidisciplinary team, supported by a psychologist and composed of theater, art and creative writing specialists. Is also planned, in some meetings, the participation of a video maker for tutoring on video creation and editing and of mentors to help teens in searching nonprofits.

The pilot project, which started in October 2022, is currently being implemented at Instituto Sant’Anna in Lugano.