ELA LEVOU DOIS MENINOS DE RUA PARA CASA E OS ADOTOU | Histórias de ter.a.pia

Maria never imagined she would become the mother of two boys who lived on the streets of Campinas. In the central region of Campinas, street children were seen as a problem. They lived neglected, ran around, stole, scared passersby, and, because of this, were expelled from church, shops, and anywhere they were nearby. No one wanted those children around, until the priest at the cathedral asked a group of young women, who went there to pray, to do something. Mary started to take action. She ran after those boys, offered them snacks, talked to them, created games and challenges. At first, they were suspicious, but the snacks made them approach, and then they went back to the street. They came dirty, hungry, afraid that Maria was from the juvenile court. When she gained their trust, she found herself surrounded by dozens of children on the steps of the cathedral, and there she realized that there was no turning back. It was necessary to find a way to prevent them from continuing down a path without support. But those who take in unwanted children become the target of judgment. They told her that those kids were beyond help, beyond repair. Maria heard everything, but followed her heart. She knew they didn't live in those conditions because they wanted to; they were just children. Together with her church group, they raised money and rented a space that, at first, offered breakfast and manual work workshops. She, who was a seamstress for Campina Grande's high society, began to work with everything from straw crafts to carpentry. The house became the Casa Maria do Nazaré institution, which for years has been changing the lives of children in vulnerable situations. But it was Maria's story that changed the institution forever. The biggest turning point came when two of the most mischievous boys would go to Maria's house and whistle at the window. She would ask the doorman to let them in, and they would have breakfast with her. Until one day she asked if they would like to live there with her, and they answered yes, without even questioning. More judgments followed, mainly from a young man Maria was involved with. He said she would be robbed, that those kids would bring drugs to her house, and gave her an ultimatum: it was either him or the boys. Maria chose the boys and went to court for custody of both of them. She, who had no biological children, became the mother of those children everyone was afraid of. She showed them what true love was. Almost 40 years later, the two boys have grown up. They have homes, jobs, families, and continue their mother's legacy of helping vulnerable people. They grew up knowing, firsthand, that no child is born without hope. What is almost always lacking is someone who doesn't give up halfway through. Buy the book "The Story of the Other Changes Us" by ter.a.pia and be moved by the stories: https://amzn.to/3CGZkc5 Get access to exclusive stories and content from the channel, become a supporter: http://apoia.se/historiasdeterapia