Literary Gatherings, Social Occupational Therapy, and Youth: expanding worldviews and self-understanding through a book club

• Grant number: 25/08346-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Patrícia Leme de Oliveira Borba
• Grantee: Carla Tenfen de Almeida
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research proposal is a continuation of the activities developed within the extension project "TOCA da Leitura - Weaving new forms of care and affection through literature and social occupational therapy." The project promotes a reading club aimed at technical high school students from an ETEC located in Santos/SP, in partnership with the Unifesp branch of the Metuia Network - Social Occupational Therapy. The reading club has become a powerful space for coexistence and learning with young people, and it also serves as a meaningful tool for the practice of social occupational therapy in educational settings. The objective of this study is to understand, from the participants' own perspectives, how taking part in TOCA da Leitura has contributed to their educational and personal journeys. This is a participatory research project that involves attending the weekly meetings of the extension project - during which students gather to share experiences based on the reading of literary works - as well as conducting semi-structured interviews with the participants to deepen the understanding of the club's impact on their development. Through this study, we aim to produce theoretical and practical contributions that strengthen work with youth in school settings, supporting both the students and the educational institution in their challenges and transformative potential, with a view toward building an education grounded in social justice and radical inclusion. (AU)