The “Making My Story” Project in Brazil

Abstract

Abstract This chapter describes the “Making My Story” project for children in residential and foster care in Brazil. The project is part of the Making History Institute (Instituto Fazendo História), a nonprofit organization founded in São Paulo in 2005. This approach ensures that every child and youth in care knows and owns their past, present, and future stories. In weekly meetings with adults, children and young people build a life storybook with photos, drawings, paintings, texts, and stories. The chapter argues that the project creates an intergenerational emotional bond and an environment of trust in which participation occurs. It gives children a voice in their interactions with foster carers, social workers, and judges because they can express themselves through images as well as words. The project thus allows children and young people to effectively communicate with adults in more than one dimension.