Sofia Cotrim, creator of the creative learning project O Mundo de Sofia, says making things by hand can offer more than a finished object. In an interview on the podcast Somos Todos Malucos, she described how hands-on activities can encourage people to try new things, work through frustration and focus on the process rather than the result.
Cotrim said she has been drawn to manual crafts since childhood. Born in Rio de Janeiro, she attended several schools where she was introduced to activities including printing T-shirts, working with clay and cutting and pasting. She moved to Portugal at 13 and later studied industrial styling, working with clothing factories and fashion brands before pursuing other projects.
O Mundo de Sofia began as a television programme on SIC Mulher. Cotrim had been working on cooking programmes, styling their image and brand presentation, when her team developed a pilot based on her interest in crafts. The project now focuses on creativity and learning through making, including workshops for adults, companies and children.
Rather than presenting herself as someone who simply teaches techniques, Cotrim said she aims to inspire people to experiment with materials and objects around them. She believes many people who say they are not creative have lost confidence or are waiting for the right moment to begin. In her view, that moment does not arrive by itself: people need to take the first step, whether that means repainting an old stool or trying watercolours.
Cotrim said fear of making mistakes can take hold as people grow older and become more conscious of being judged. That can stop them from trying, even when the activity is straightforward. She encourages participants to see mistakes as part of the process, and to try again rather than expecting a perfect result immediately.
In workshops, she has seen how a practical task can absorb participants’ attention. Although people bring their phones to sessions for adults, she said they often leave them untouched while concentrating on what they are making. Working with their hands can also make it easier for people to talk with one another, she added.
Cotrim also runs activities for children. She said some young participants have limited experience with tools such as scissors, and that crafts can help them practise patience and cope with waiting, as well as with the frustration of starting again. She described these skills as relevant beyond manual activities.
The episode also considers group crafts such as crochet and collage. Cotrim said she sees growing interest in groups devoted to crochet and cutting and composing images from magazines. These activities, she suggested, give people an accessible way to create without the pressure they may feel when drawing or starting from scratch.
Sources: Observador.