Words That Count
Encounter, Participation and Social Inclusion through Creativity
We invited more than 160 young people from different backgrounds and life journeys, aged 13 to 18, from the municipality of Sintra, to explore writing and illustration as ways of thinking, storytelling, and sharing experiences that often remain unseen within the wider literary and cultural landscape.
The Power of Words and Literary Creation
There are words that have the power to reveal worlds, bring people closer together, uncover identities, and open doors to new possibilities. It is within this context that the Words That Count project was created, grounded in the belief that literary creation is a privileged space for encounter, learning, growth, participation, and social inclusion.
More than simply a literacy promotion programme — particularly in relation to reading habits — Words That Count is an initiative that helps uncover talent while celebrating cultural and linguistic diversity. In doing so, it creates space for each participant to develop their creative potential and contribute to a more inclusive society.
The project has brought together the experiences, sensitivities, and imaginations of different participants, resulting in works marked by authenticity, creative freedom, and the singular strength of those who write from their own lived experience. Each text, image, and narrative expresses the power of art as a tool for confidence, belonging, and future aspirations, showing that creativity can be a powerful force for personal and collective transformation.
136 young authors from the municipality of Sintra
Words That Count Literary Festival — First Works. New Voices.
The Words That Count Literary Festival is the celebratory and culminating moment of the project, promoted by the Aga Khan Foundation Portugal. The festival marks the official launch of debut works by young authors, published in partnership with Almedina, in a programme where literature meets other artistic languages — with words as the starting point.
From inspiration to publication.
The project takes place in both formal and non-formal educational settings. It includes the voluntary participation of young people in a programme of creative writing, illustration, and thematic workshops aligned with the school calendar. Alongside learning related to written and spoken language, the project also encourages self-awareness, socio-emotional and intercultural learning, and critical reflection on themes identified by the young participants as meaningful for their writing projects.
