Being self-employed after shelter – Now what? An experience of community intervention

Abstract

This article aims to present a community intervention practice contextualized within the framework of non-formal education. Thus, it intends to describe how the practice of non-formal education enables and promotes a holistic development of individuals. Non-formal education is characterized by being intentional insofar as it is concerned with the personal, social, and professional development of individuals. Within this context, it will be easier to understand why Socio-Cultural Animation (SCA) is situated within the scope of non-formal education. The diagnosis of needs and interests was carried out based on qualitative research methodologies, namely informal conversations with the technical team of the foster home, observation through direct contact with some of the young people in the process of becoming autonomous, and document analysis and consultation of the Casa 2020 Report. In all phases of this intervention, we considered it imperative to listen to all those involved in this process, but especially the children and young people. This implied numerous reformulations of the process. We can say that promoting autonomy in young people in foster care is a topic that has been little explored and has received little research in our country.