Gabriel’s Story

1993 Born date: 03/03/1993 in Florianópolis, state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil At that time my parents weren’t employed with a regular wage. Tough times but kept on smiling.

1998 From 93 to 98 we changed our home 5 times. Money scarcity. In 1998 my parents had broken up. Me and my mom went to São Paulo to live there because she had a job purpose This pic was in my school there I used to come to Florianópolis to visit my dad who was engaged again, so I’ve “earned” a stepmother

2001 We came back to Florianópolis My mom started to build a house that my grandfather gave her the field (our first and current house) My mom started dating (I didn’t like it) New school

2003 Mom started to work in a big Beer Company in Brazil – I used to spend much time alone Our house kept under construction and I moved to downtown in a small apartment because my mom used to travel many times and for me it was more secure In this year I changed my school once again – but at that time, to stay longer than other (till 2009) In the pic, my best friends from school

2004 This Beer Company asked my mom to live in another city to coordinate a project, I needed to move with her to live for 6 months in other state Again, new school, reality, friends..

2005 Mom left the Beer Company and we came back to Florianópolis, and I returned to the same school She decided to open her first company in our house (that was still under construction, we didn’t have much money, so that house took 10 years to be done) I got a stepfather (I didn’t like it)

From 2006 to 2008 At this period, mom’s company grew and she changed into two different places – the company was focused on marketing, events and tourism Our house was still under construction and we left the apartment in downtown and started to live in other apartment in other neighborhood, near to her company In 2008 we came back to our real house and the Company also came back to the place where it had been founded

2009 The house was concluded!!! (10 years) Mom’s married for real – in Brazil is common to say that you are engaged if you decide to live together and share things, so they were already married, but this was an official celebration

2010 As I said, I’ve stayed (finally) for a long time in the same schools, what was great for me. But in 2010 (my last year of high school) I changed my school Mom’s company started to grew again and we left home-office (again) and she could open the company in downtown (expensive!) She invited me to start working for real to her, not a family relation, but an employee one. I was 17 and I accepted – my first professional experience with incomes, responsibilities – it last 1 year My grand grandfather and my two grand fathers died in 2010, sequentially I was approved in PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION on the University of the State of Santa Catarina

2011 March: mom diagnosed with larynges cancer I was starting my university.. Not bad emotionally.. From April to July she did radiotherapy and chemotherapy We needed to wait to see the effect, and we decided to travel in family. I think my mom was afraid to die before travel for some international place, as we haven't done before. So we went to Chile and was great! Unfortunately the treatments weren't successful and she need to have her larynges taken off from her body. (28/10/2011 – wont forget this date..) At that time I was starting my first relationship that last for 2 years and was so helpful at this rough times

2012 After the first surgery she needed to eat a milk soup for six months. ONLY THIS! Was horrible. I could detail many things. But anyway, she’s alive nowadays and living her new life with all the new challenges. In July 2012 I started to work at ICom, a well know NGO in our city, I was so amazed. Was for sure very important for my professional development and personal. ICom is a milestone for me.

2013 The whole 2013 I kept on ICom and during that time, I was engaged with AIESEC and Choice Movement, working with social business and social impact as volunteer. I've learned so much that time and expanded my network!

2014 After some sadness of ending my relation of 2 years, the best thing that could happen – WARRIORS WITHOUT WEAPONS Coming back from WWW in 2 weeks I was traveling again with Rondon Project, stayed 15 days helping communities to grow In June I was invited by my last boss at ICom to travel with him to USA – Chicago, to present one of the projects that I was coordinating. AWESOME opportunity! In July I traveled with AIESEC to Russia, working as a volunteer in a Summer Camp with children From Russia I moved straight to Berlin to stay 6 months in an exchange program as my home University has a partnership with one in Berlin – besides that I found a Job and I could pay everything by myself, learned some German, visited more than 10 countries

2015 After my trip, I came back to the last semester of Public Administration and I got my degree! After many dreams, the Cancer Organization was founded as a NGO and projects are starting to run!! I met Diego Calegari who invited myself to be part on his dream, Politize! – the one that we are willing to develop through E-mpulse game

Summarizing My mom was (and is) an admirable woman and she has done all she could for me. My father is a good one but he had failed many times (long story..) and we don’t have a strong relation as I have with my mom, besides that he lives in other city. I don’t have brothers. I needed to change city, home, friends, schools – many times. I don’t have a great relation with my stepfather, but I know he loves my mom, that’s enough for me. I raise up seeing all this battles of my mom and I think it might have brightened in my eyes, to persuade my dreams. Seeing her struggling everyday to provide me education, food and love makes me grown up thinking that she is FIRE and I want to be as well. She is an eternal warrior, nowadays fighting for her life. I had many experiences of life and work and I am only 22, I am proud of the path chosen by me. In my cycle of friends that’s not common. I am little bit confused now, much information.. Hope you have understand a more about me, I definitely I couldn’t say everything that happened in details but that’s it!

Thanks – Hit me on: (current Dream!)