Paje
Think Human Foundation
Mission & History
Engaging with institutionalized children and youth for over fifteen years has shown that adults in their lives act as primary role models. Educators and caregivers prioritize instilling lifelong values alongside essential knowledge. Unlike knowledge, values require experiential learning and imitation in daily life. This realization prompted the “Cativar Project,” designed to create strong, enduring bonds in informal settings with children and youth from a Youth and Childhood Home. Inspired by “The Little Prince,” this initiative aimed to promote humanization, understanding, and nurturing, creating a safe environment rooted in trust, friendship, generosity, and responsibility. As these youth approached the age limit for institutional care, concerns about their readiness to face the world grew. This underscored the gap between institutional care and the subsequent autonomy needed by these youths.
The motto “You are forever responsible for what you tame” highlighted this concern. Investigating these transitions led to a doctoral thesis at the University of Coimbra titled “The Challenges of Autonomy: A Comprehensive Study of Transition Processes for Different Life Contexts from the Perspective of Former Institutionalized Youth and Adults.” The study revealed significant issues, such as caregiver unpreparedness, insufficient autonomy training, and lack of post-care support. Recognizing the lack of systematic support and responding to growing help requests underscored the need for an institutional support network. Thus, “PAJE” was established to assist those prematurely affected by societal challenges, aiming to provide comprehensive support and address these issues effectively.
Country Information
As of 2023, Portugal had 6,446 children and youth in care, a figure consistent with previous years. This statistic reflects the ongoing need for institutional support and interventions tailored to different age groups and regions. The distribution of these children and youth varies according to their age brackets and the specific districts or regions they are located in, underscoring the importance of targeted support services for this demographic.
Over nearly nine years of operation, the organization PAJE has provided support to approximately 500 young individuals across Portugal. Additionally, it has extended its assistance to over 40 Children’s Homes, benefitting around 1500 children and youth residing in these facilities. This outreach highlights PAJE’s significant impact on supporting vulnerable populations within the country.
The Need
Assist young adults who have transitioned from foster homes by addressing specific challenges such as hunger, lack of access to medication, housing difficulties, employment issues, and bureaucratic hurdles, alongside providing ongoing support like psychological assistance, counseling, and combating loneliness. Enhance the transition profile for children leaving foster care by cultivating autonomy skills, providing caregiver training, and initiating innovative projects. Increase awareness of these issues by mobilizing volunteers, educating the public through outreach in communities, schools, and academic institutions, and advocating for scientific research and changes in public policies.
The Project We Fund
Encourage discussions on the measures that adolescents and professionals in the sector can adopt to enhance the autonomy of young people, particularly emphasizing employability. Develop an intervention plan with adolescents from participating foster homes, highlighting the importance of professional engagement and market insertion. Implement a training plan for caregivers at these foster homes to equip them with the tools necessary to empower young people in integrating into the labor market. Focus interventions with adolescents in foster care and provide training for caregivers on self-awareness, vocational guidance, and preparation for professional contexts, all centered on boosting employability.
Initiate concrete actions through the Building Project, which aims to refine the existing kitchen facilities of the foster homes. The goal is to transform the space into a more traditional family kitchen, moving away from the industrial setup to one that promotes skills for independent living. This involves renovations like painting, updating furniture, and installing new appliances and utensils. Concurrently, the People Project seeks to cultivate a transformative shift within the home, encouraging children to envision their future selves. This project focuses on preparing for post-care transitions and instilling a sense of purpose through vocational guidance. Training sessions for caregivers on resume building, interview preparation, and boosting self-esteem are part of this initiative, all aimed at preparing young individuals for the workforce.
The Result
Support that enables the follow-up of post-fostering trajectories with regard to integration into the labour market.
