DADDY, WHERE ARE YOU?: MUSIC AND PATERNAL ABSENCE AT CASA SHALON

Resumen

This study analyzes the impact of paternal absence in the context of institutional care for children and adolescents at Casa Shalon, a shelter located in João Pessoa, Paraíba. It is an experience report combined with bibliographic and documentary research. The objective is to understand the consequences of the absence of a father figure among children and adolescents in care and to describe the effects of cultural and socioeducational interventions on their behavior. The methodology consisted of participant observation conducted over eight years while managing the shelter, using the mediated listening of the song “Papaoutai” and the organization of biweekly talks by successful professionals from socioeconomically vulnerable backgrounds as pedagogical resources. The results show that approximately 80% of the young people at the institution experienced paternal absence, a proportion consistent with national statistics identifying neglect and abandonment as the leading causes of institutional care in Brazil. Identification with musical narratives and stories of overcoming adversity was also found to generate engagement, curiosity, and active listening among the boys. The study concludes that empathetic approaches and real-life examples of resilience are valuable tools for reframing the pain of abandonment and developing new future prospects for children and adolescents in institutional care.