By Sylvia Valerio | Program Coordinator
Dear Donor,
We are pleased to share the latest Grupo Nós activities supporting adolescents and young people as they strengthen their autonomy and build their life projects.
Throughout the four-month period, intensified individual support continued for the 18-year-old participants. As they are no longer in residential care and currently live in transitional housing for young adults, this work requires ongoing coordination with public services and partner institutions. They are now putting into practice the life projects developed during their years in Grupo Nós while facing challenges related to employment, housing, and autonomy in daily life.
In April, May, and June, vocational guidance sessions were held in partnership with Projeto Vênus, an initiative of Insper. Through self-awareness activities and contact with professionals from different fields, participants broadened their perspectives on career choices and future plans.
Young people from Grupo Nós and adolescents from Grupo Nós +Educação also participated in the Grupo Nós Expedition at Estância e Parque Ecológico das Águas, in Parelheiros. Activities included a treetop adventure course, stand-up paddleboarding, a boat ride, zip-lining, and an animal exhibition.
The experience promoted learning, contact with nature, stronger relationships, autonomy, social and environmental awareness, and a sense of belonging. Participants also planted a tree together, symbolizing care for nature and a commitment to the future. The day encouraged interaction among adolescents, technical staff, and educators and helped create meaningful memories.
Meeting Between Services
On May 20, Grupo Nós brought together partner residential care and transitional housing services at Embaixada Preta to discuss “Life Project.”
Following a collective character-building activity, participants worked in pairs to discuss employment and education, housing, community, and support networks. The meeting promoted the exchange of experiences, collective learning, and stronger network collaboration.
Technical Team Training
On June 19, Grupo Nós’s technical team participated in a Financial Education training session led by Mônica, founder and CEO of Negrana Finanças.
The session explored relationships with money from social, everyday, and cultural perspectives, including the influence of ancestry on financial resource management. It also addressed financial autonomy, priority setting, and planning, strengthening the team’s work with adolescents and their life projects.
Learn More About Grupo Nós
Grupo Nós on OrpasCast
Igor Chico, a Grupo Nós technical team member, represented Instituto Fazendo História on the OrpasCast podcast. The conversation addressed the social impact of supporting young people in care, peripheral culture as a tool for transformation, and Grupo Nós’s work.
The episode also explored belonging, opportunities, and building futures, emphasizing the importance of spaces where adolescents and young people can be heard, express themselves, and strengthen relationships.
Testimonial
A young woman who joined Grupo Nós at age 15 recently recorded a testimonial about the program’s importance in her journey toward autonomy.
She explained how the program helped her navigate the city and use public transportation, overcoming her fear of traveling independently and getting lost.
She also described the stipend as an “incentive” to her financial autonomy. She uses part of it to add credit to her transportation card to travel to job interviews and work, saves the remainder for emergencies, and has learned to manage her money more effectively.
Finally, she thanked the donors and Grupo Nós for the opportunities, learning experiences, relationships, and access to cultural activities. Her testimonial reflects the program’s importance in preparing her for adult life by strengthening her autonomy, responsibility, and life projects.
— I., 18 years old, Grupo Nós participant
Recommended Reading
Open Letter from a Grupo Nós Educator – Relationships, Community, and Life Project
In this article, Igor Chico reflects on listening as a form of presence, care, and relationship-building that goes beyond simply “hearing.” Based on individual support practices, he explores how encounters between young people and educators can create space for stories, silences, dreams, and possible paths.
Read the full article on Instituto Fazendo História’s blog.
We sincerely thank all our donors for making these activities and the continued support of adolescents and young people possible. Your contribution helps them strengthen their autonomy, prepare for adult life, and build new possibilities for the future.
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