School dropout, racism and health promotion for youth

Abstract

The project “School Dropout, Racism and Building a Life Plan” addressed the interruption of the educational trajectory as a public health and social issue, highlighting its link to structural racism and socioeconomic vulnerability. The project aimed to promote the holistic health of adolescents in the Jardim Primavera area of ​​Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, by encouraging school retention and the development of a structured life plan. The methodology involved an educational intervention consisting of two participatory sessions that utilized activities such as the “Territory Map” and the “Timeline,” alongside the use of the “Juventude que Projeta” (Youth Planning for the Future) workbook and a small gift. Participants' accounts revealed that factors such as socioeconomic vulnerability, food insecurity, and institutional limitations negatively impact school retention and students' life plans. Following the use of the workbook, a reduction in initial apathy was observed, along with broadened educational and professional perspectives and strengthened agency, self-efficacy, and resilience among the participants. It is concluded that the activities contributed to promoting the holistic health of the participating adolescents, reinforcing the importance of education as a Social Determinant of Health and demonstrating the potential of outreach initiatives to reduce social vulnerabilities.