Rio dos Estudantes

It was during the pandemic that the “Cartas do Rio” project emerged, inspired by a very special initiative from Prof. Aldilene César who, in turn, had been inspired by an idea given to her by Prof. Giovana Xavier (UFRJ) regarding the discouragement of students in this context. Thus, she invited her students from the Technical High School of CEFET-RJ to write letters telling about the experiences they were experiencing in this delicate moment. And the students threw themselves body and soul into this adventure. They recorded their feelings and emotions, addressing letters to a future “I,” to an old acquaintance called “depression,” to a recently deceased grandmother, or to historical figures like João Cândido, with messages sometimes very sad and others of much hope. They are 13 letters that outline a moving portrait of what youth has been going through in these two difficult years and, also, dialogues with some historical figures of Rio. The idea is to disseminate these living and pulsing records of a history still in construction, memories of a very singular and unique era that will result in a future that has never been so uncertain.