What the eyes see, the heart keeps. And when those eyes belong to children and adolescents growing up on the margins, not just geographically but socially, the images they capture become more than records: they become living testimonies.
This is how the project was born “Looks that Speak”, at the Oratório São Domingos Sávio, located in the Moinho Community, central São Paulo. Through a photography course, educators offered students not only a new skill, but also an opportunity to look more deeply at their surroundings—and within themselves.
The project aimed to create a photographic archive of the community before the demolition of homes and businesses and the relocation of the families residing there. Faced with the imminent relocation, the photographs taken by the residents themselves, especially children and adolescents, reveal the affection, bonds, and stories that have shaped the territory and their lives.
Each photograph is a unique perspective on reality. A perspective that speaks of coexistence, of childhood, of the simplicity and beauty hidden in the details of everyday life. These images resist invisibility, communicating love, friendship, respect, and faith. Photographs that not only portray, but proclaim: there is life, dignity, and hope in every corner of the community.
Even in the face of pain and uncertainty, the students didn't betray abandonment. They proclaimed love. Their images don't depict ruins, but memories and promises. The "Looks That Speak" project became an exercise in memory and, above all, in presence: what is lived intensely will never be erased.
An oratory where hope flourishes
The project was developed in Saint Dominic Savio Oratory, one of the Child and Adolescent Centers (CCA) maintained by the Alliance of Mercy. The CCA is a socio-educational space that welcomes approximately 120 children and adolescents in situations of social vulnerability daily.
There, after-school classes offer workshops in reading, writing, arts, sports, cultural activities, and spiritual experiences. However, more than activities, what is offered is a space for listening, welcoming, and restoring dignity.
The Oratory's presence in the Moinho Community is a concrete sign of God's mercy. It is where family bonds are restored, talents are discovered, and dreams are rekindled. It is a place where one learns to believe again, even amid limitations and challenges. Where Christ is proclaimed with simplicity, through everyday gestures of care, tenderness, and faith.
How can you help?
The Alliance of Mercy's mission is made possible thanks to divine providence and the generosity of so many who believe in transforming lives. Projects like "Olhares que Falam" (Looks that Speak) demonstrate that the Gospel continues to be proclaimed, also through art, education, and fraternal presence among the poorest.
You can collaborate with this mission:
- Following our Instagram: @aliancademisericordia It is @alianca.social
- Sharing our projects and testimonies
- Contributing with a donation via Pix: doar@misericordia.com.br
Every gesture of love turns into concrete care.
And where the world sees abandonment, we continue to see promises. Because the gaze of mercy speaks louder!
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