“African Force” promotes the social inclusion of African and Afro-descendant children growing in Portugal, by creating characters that resemble them
When I was a child, I always had the same dream: to read a book featuring heroes and ‘sheroes’ who looked like me. But the more I read, the more I noticed I didn´t belong.
This made me think: What are the consequences of this lack of diversity in the characters we typically find in children’s books?
As far as I can tell, children who don't see themselves portrayed begin to lose their ability to dream.
This lack of diversity in children’s books negatively impacts not just African and Afro-descendant kids growing in Portugal, but all Portuguese children. They are all missing out on a valuable opportunity to learn, in a fun and entertaining way, about racial diversity and thus grow their social competence.
To change this, I decided to create stories featuring characters with whom black children can identify, promoting their self-esteem and sense of belonging. I also believe that diverse characters and authors help to enlarge our collective mindset, discouraging the emergence of racist and supremacist beliefs.
Besides promoting greater ethnic and racial diversity in children´s books, “African Force” shares positive information about Africa as the stories unfold.
We do so placing special emphasis on Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe, the countries of origin of the five main characters of the African Force: Nzinga, Creole, Bijagós, Macua and Cacau.
Our first book has the title “The Sun has disappeared. Did someone steal it?” and is ready for publishing.
At this point we need money to print our first copies and it is these funds that we will hopefully raise through this crowdfunding campaign.
Please be a part of this story.
We rely on your support.
Donate and share this campaign as much as you can.
Thank you!
Os personagens principais da Força Africana
Paula Cardoso
Nunca se viveu nada assim!
Olá, apoiantes,
Georgina Angélica, Sandra Henriques, Catarina Cristão, Vanessa Sanches, Mónica Gregório, Catarina Cerdeira Abreu e anónimos!
Gratidão por estarem aí desse lado, e por terem aceitado embarcar nesta aventura da Força Africana. Como forma de agradecimento, partilhamos convosco um pedaço do início da nossa primeira história.
Começa assim: "Há sete dias, 20 horas, 10 minutos e 11 segundos que não se fala noutra coisa em todo o mundo. (...) Nas notícias, as palavras são sempre as mesmas, como se não houvesse mais nada para contar. Até pela internet não se clica noutra coisa. Nunca se viveu nada assim!".
O que será? Haverá aqui alguma semelhança com a realidade que estamos a enfrentar?
No final desta história, garantimos que o Sol vai voltar a brilhar, e mais radioso do que nunca. Isto graças ao contributo de todos. Porque juntos somos mais fortes!
Obrigada a todos!
Log in or register to post comments