Antonia, 8 years old

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Antonia's journey through foster care shows just how strong she is. She faced big challenges, like missing around one hundred days of school, which would be tough for anyone. But Antonia took it all in stride! She's dedicated to her education and has really worked hard to catch up. Now, she's not just back on track; she's actually excelling in all her classes and doing really well!

After Antonia entered foster care, she lost all of her childhood photos. The frequent transitions between homes have left her uncertain about the names of all the schools she attended. Her therapist understands that exploring her past is crucial for her healing and well-being, and has started working with her on creating a lifebook—a visual and narrative record of her life. Antonia wishes for a camera of her own, as it would empower her to actively participate in reconstructing her past. She wants to photograph the places she lived, the schools she attended, and, importantly, capture images of the trusted adults and friends who have supported her along the way. These photographs would be invaluable components of her lifebook, helping her piece together the often-disjointed fragments of her early childhood and build a stronger sense of self and identity. The gift of a camera would be instrumental in this profoundly important process.