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Description
The “Voar para a autonomia” project aims to involve 120 at risk children and young people (15-24 years old) in residential care. Its objectives are to raise awareness among these young people about the importance of preparing for life after foster care and to promote an experience in a real context, placing them in an environment and situation analogous to that of an independent life (outside foster care).
Summary of project results
In addressing the needs of at-risk children and young people in Portugal, this project focused on the challenges faced by those in the Promotion and Protection system, particularly in residential care. The system supports individuals up to 18 years old, with the possibility of extending care until 21 or even 25 years old if they are studying or in training. However, upon reaching adulthood at 18, young people can choose to leave the system and their residential care immediately.
Given their backgrounds, often marked by adverse childhood experiences, emotional vulnerability, lack of references or values, and cognitive fragility, it is not surprising that many leave prematurely, driven by a desire for freedom but without adequate preparation for independent living or reintegration with families deemed unfit to care for them until just before their 18th birthday. The primary reason for ending care without subsequent measures was the young person''s decision upon reaching adulthood, accounting for 65.4% of such cases (CASA, 2019).
The law does not allow young people who have left the system at 18 to re-enter for residential care or support for independent living, even if they are only 18. This situation necessitates early intervention to raise awareness about post-care life and empower this particularly vulnerable segment of the youth population.
In 2019, 2476 children and young people left residential care. The most common life projects defined for them were "autonomization" and "(re)integration into the nuclear family," accounting for 39% and 37% of cases, respectively (CASA, 2019). The "autonomization" project was defined for 1838 young people aged 15 to 20, representing 78.1% of those with this life project.
This proposed project aims to empower 120 young people in residential care, preparing them for pre-autonomy, improving their exit profiles, and facilitating favorable transitions to post-care life.
The project implemented a series of activities designed to prepare young people in residential care for independent living. In the first stage, three sessions were held in each partner residential care home, utilizing specially developed psychopedagogical materials. These included "Plano Z da Vida" (Life Plan Z), a game where young people plan their post-care choices; "Quantos Queres das Competências" (Competency How many), games designed to engage and motivate them; "A Minha Semana Ideal" (My Ideal Week), a weekly planning chart; "Vive a Real(idade)" (Live the Real(Age)), a game covering various life skills topics; and "Voa Feliz" (Fly Happy), a support book for autonomy-related doubts.
Additional activities in this stage included "O meu e o teu balão" (My Balloon and Yours), focusing on self-care and emotional well-being; "A cada passo" (With Each Step), emphasizing self-concept and personal values; "Baralhando e tirando à sorte" (Shuffling and Drawing by Chance), empowering young people to feel like agents of change; "Hora de Jogar" (Time to Play), addressing rights and duties in residential care and autonomy; "Um (re)toque no rumo da vida" (A (Re)touch on Life''s Path), reflecting on social pressure and decision-making; "Tudo importa, mesmo que…" (Everything Matters, Even If…), highlighting the importance of dialogue and assertive communication; "Speed Meeting," identifying learning and challenges; and "És tu quem falas, porque és tu que percebes" (You Speak Because You Understand), giving voice to their life stories.
In the second stage, group activities in Coimbra included the psychopedagogical game "Em Busca de Significado" (In Search of Meaning), promoting self-reflection and knowledge sharing. Group dynamics involved sports, socio-educational tasks, leisure, and well-being activities, along with visits to monuments and boat trips to overcome fears and gain knowledge.
The third stage involved tasks for young people to complete during a week of independent living in a rented space, with all logistics and support managed by PAJE. For younger children not involved in these stages, the book "Na Cidade de Um só Sentido" (In the One-Way City) was written to develop autonomy up to 12 years old. A guide and complementary workshop were created for families.
Two project meetings were held at the beginning and end, featuring testimonials from participants and care home staff, with the final meeting filmed and uploaded to the promoter''s YouTube channel.
Training sessions for PAJE volunteers covered ethics, residential care specifics, and the consequences of adverse childhood experiences.
An Internal Procedures Manual was developed, and five project newsletters were created and published on the website, which was regularly updated.
Both the partner residential care homes and the beneficiaries provided very positive evaluations. They not only showed satisfaction and engagement in the activities but also recognized the importance and usefulness of the intervention and experiences for developing essential skills for successful independent living and a thoughtful, well-prepared exit from residential care.
The creation of specific products and targeted activities with appropriate content not only enhanced the project''s results but also ensured that other residential care homes could benefit from these materials and activities even after the project''s conclusion, thereby increasing its impact and replication. During the project, it became evident that some young people, initially eager to leave residential care unprepared, realized they were not ready and decided to stay longer until they were fully prepared. Others became more resilient, less impulsive, and more open to learning and change while waiting for the right time to leave.
The project effectively changed the exit profile of young people in partner residential care homes, which was its primary mission. In terms of capacity building for the promoting entity, there were also significant improvements. The organization enhanced its management, communication, and organizational processes, improving its operations and reaching more vulnerable young people. The project also raised awareness of the issue within civil society, engaged with political authorities, and took care of its staff and volunteers.