Trauma can silence young people, leaving emotional wounds that are difficult to express or heal. Recognizing this urgent challenge—intensified by humanitarian crises such as the war in Ukraine—the CREATORS: Courage REborn project set out to provide young trauma survivors with a powerful tool for recovery: creative writing. Through an Erasmus+ cooperation partnership among Romania, Spain, and Poland, the project developed innovative resources, strengthened youth work practices, and supported the emotional well-being of marginalized young people.
Running from March 2023 to January 2025, CREATORS responded to the growing need for accessible, inclusive mental-health support for displaced youth, refugees, and individuals affected by conflict. At a time when resources for young survivors are scarce, the project offered a creative, practical, and deeply human approach to healing.
A Creative Response to Trauma
The heart of CREATORS lies in the belief that storytelling and self-expression can rebuild emotional safety, confidence, and resilience. Young trauma survivors often struggle to articulate their experiences, making creative writing a powerful doorway to self-discovery and recovery. However, youth workers across Europe frequently lack the tools and skills needed to guide trauma-affected young people through such processes.
To address this gap, CREATORS developed an innovative interactive book—both in print and audiobook format—filled with writing exercises, prompts, and reflective activities rooted in trauma-informed practice. Designed to be accessible and culturally adaptable, the book is available in English, Romanian, Polish, and Spanish, ensuring broad usability for young people and support professionals alike.
Objectives Focused on Healing and Inclusion
The project’s goals revolved around empowering both young people and the professionals who support them. Core objectives included:
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enabling young trauma survivors to process emotions through creative writing
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equipping youth workers with advanced tools, trauma-informed methodologies, and practical strategies
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fostering cross-sectoral collaboration among organizations in Romania, Spain, and Poland
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promoting inclusion and supporting the integration of third-country nationals
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strengthening community resilience and encouraging long-term support structures
By bridging mental health, education, and youth work, CREATORS aligned with EU priorities on inclusion, equality, and digital transformation—ensuring that emotional support tools remain accessible in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Transnational Activities That Built Expertise
Project activities were divided into interconnected work packages that encouraged learning, development, and knowledge sharing.
Training courses and study visits in Spain, Poland, and Romania allowed youth workers to explore creative writing methodologies, trauma recovery approaches, and intergenerational trauma. These exchanges enriched the interactive book and enhanced the professional competencies of participants.
The development of the book—from concept to multilingual digital and audio formats—took place between August 2023 and July 2024, with pilot workshops ensuring that the final resource was practical, engaging, and sensitive to the needs of trauma survivors.
Dissemination efforts, including conferences, online campaigns, and community outreach, helped spread the project’s results across Europe.
Lasting Impact and Meaningful Outputs
The CREATORS project delivered substantial and sustainable results. The interactive book stands as a flagship resource, offering young survivors a creative pathway to healing and educators a structured, trauma-informed tool for emotional support. Youth workers across three countries gained new competencies, strengthening their capacity to guide trauma-affected young people with empathy and expertise.
Knowledge exchange among partners fostered long-term collaboration and improved youth work quality, particularly within communities supporting refugees and displaced individuals. Conferences, workshops, and digital dissemination broadened awareness of creative methodologies for trauma recovery.
Ultimately, CREATORS demonstrated that creativity can be a lifeline. By giving young people space to express, imagine, and rebuild, the project contributed to stronger communities, more inclusive youth services, and a renewed sense of courage among those most in need.
