Funded by Caixa Social and promoted by the Instituto Padre António Vieira (IPAV) with support from NPISA of Guimarães, the project ran for a year. The aim was to foster proximity, active listening, and sharing with individuals accompanied by NPISA, seeking to understand and give visibility to their life stories beyond stereotypes.
The developed work resulted in a digital book, which compiles the shared stories, and a set of videos that allow an insight into the participants' different journeys and experiences.
The opening session was attended by the Councillor for Social Action and Vice-President of the Guimarães Municipal Council, Eduardo Leite, the manager of the Caixa Geral de Depósitos Agency in Guimarães, Paulo Morais, and the Director of Innovation at the Instituto Padre António Vieira, Sara Martins Silva.
“"As a Municipality, we have a responsibility to continue promoting policies and responses that place people at the center of our intervention"
Eduardo Leite highlighted the initiative's importance, considering it a proposal that “invites us to reflect on a reality that too often remains invisible to society's eyes”. The Councillor added that “as a Municipality, we have a responsibility to continue promoting policies and responses that place people at the center of our intervention”, further emphasizing that “we cannot reduce anyone to their circumstances, nor allow the condition of being homeless to erase a person's identity, history, and dignity”.
The program also included a round table on the theme “The importance of life stories and presentation of results”, with participation from Isabel Carneiro (Portuguese Red Cross), Cláudia Duarte (Instituto Padre António Vieira), and José Muga and Pedro Coelho (participants in this edition of the Ubuntu Empathy Museum). The session concluded with Manuel Silva, Representative of Social Security at NPISA Guimarães.
The initiative reinforces the work developed by NPISA of Guimarães and the Municipality's commitment to people-centered responses, promoting listening, valuing their experiences, and fostering greater community awareness and empathy towards the reality of homeless individuals.
