Dear Friends
One of the biggest obstacles for me has been the lack of a strong collaboration network within the school environment. The educational system is highly focused on completing the official curriculum, which leaves very little space for creative or emotional-development activities like poetry workshops.
At the same time, many students are simply exhausted by school. They often feel overwhelmed by academic demands and are reluctant to engage in what they sometimes perceive as “extra” or unnecessary activities. This attitude is sometimes reinforced by parents, who prioritize academic outcomes over emotional or creative development.
It is important to say that we have many wonderful and dedicated teachers at the school. However, the general attitude of students and parents can still be very discouraging. Over time, this became a strong demotivating factor for me. I did not have enough energy to continue trying to organize poetry-based work with youth on my own, and the attempts I made did not bring the results I had hoped for.
Recently, however, something shifted. The idea of preparing workshops for young people who participate in extracurricular activities — outside the formal school structure — has renewed my motivation. It reminded me why I wanted to work with poetry and young people in the first place, and it has given me new energy to continue.
