On 19–22 May, first-year physiotherapy students from the Faculty of Medicine, Rasa Žukauskaitė and Andrė Vaivadaitė, together with lecturers Milda Gintilienė and Ingrida Viliušienė, participated in the international Empowering Puppetry project held at Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), Finland.

This express mobility project brought together students and lecturers from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland. Each year, the project explores a new theme—this time focusing on how creative elements, especially puppetry, can be integrated into therapy to enhance emotional expression and patient engagement.

The week began with short participant introductions and a project overview presented by Jana Vyborna-Turunen from HAMK. Her presentation traced the five-year journey of the Empowering Puppetry project, highlighting its development into a unique platform combining creativity and health.

Participants visited the Hämeenlinna Art Museum and the multidisciplinary ARX cultural center for young audiences. These cultural experiences served as inspiration, broadening participants’ creative horizons and encouraging them to explore the therapeutic potential of art. ‘Taking part in this project helped me understand how creativity can enrich physiotherapy and strengthen the connection with patients,’ shares student R. Žukauskaitė.

The project week was filled with dynamic activities: participants played ice-breaking games that fostered trust and unity across the international group. Finnish students shared their insights and experiences from previous years, offering a deeper understanding of the project’s personal and professional impact.

A highlight of the week was a visit to the workshop of professional puppeteer Hannu Räisä, where students not only observed but actively created their own puppets using various materials. Later, they developed short therapeutic scenes through improvisation and storytelling. The week concluded with a final puppet performance created and acted out by the participants themselves.

Project coordinator M. Gintilienė at the closing ceremony announced that the project will receive funding again next year, paving the way for continued collaboration and even deeper exploration of the intersection between creativity and therapy. ‘This project not only enhances professional skills but also nurtures a more sensitive, human-centered approach to therapy,’ says lecturer I. Viliušienė.