Maria do Carmo Santos da Silva is an experienced English teacher who has been developing the Handmade Project, an interdisciplinary wellbeing initiative centred on crochet and knitting as tools for mental health, creativity, and community building at Escola Secundária de Almeida Garrett (ESAG). She first developed the project in 2020 while recovering from a serious health condition, using manual arts to regain balance, confidence, and a sense of purpose. Its success led to its re-implementation at ESAG, a school guided by the motto “Learning to Be.”
The project fully aligns with ESAG’s focus on character education, creativity, and wellbeing. In an increasingly digital world, Handmade encourages students and adults alike to slow down, connect, and focus on empathy, solidarity, and mental health through meaningful, hands-on work.
The Handmade Project demonstrates that simple manual arts can be powerful educational tools, fostering healthier minds, stronger communities, and a more humane approach to learning.
Escola Secundária de Almeida Garrett, Vila Nova de Gaia (Portugal)