Papel de Gente mission is to potentialize the creativeness and capability of people with psychological disturbances; building alternative solutions that improve their social participation in an effective way. Through the artisan recycling of paper application as a tool, these people reach a better quality of life, socialization and employment capacity.
The Papel de Gente methodology is based on artesian manufacturing of recycled paper products of high quality used as alternative therapy. At the same time, it is more productive and humanitarian which promotes the dignity and social inclusion throughout the labor. The technology is considered as a reference by the academy and experts regarding the development of public policies for mental health.
Since the foundation of Papel de Gente in 1994, more than 1,000 patients were attended to. In 2005 the organization was attending to 25 youths and adults of ages 16 to 65 years per month, increasing to 70 beneficiaries by the end of 2006, and with a target to reach the goal of 220 users per month by the end of 2007.
Relying on 11 years experience and determination, the therapist Eliana Tiezzi together with interdisciplinary support provided by designers, artists, entrepreneurs and other professionals, created a unique space where patients could use their creativity and become productive; a key factor to built patients self esteem which resulted in providing stabilization of their clinical diseases and reducing the use of medications and hospitalization.
Papel de Gente methodology resulted in improving patient’s quality of life, promoting their social inclusion and acceptance. It provides the opportunity for them to generate their own revenues and at the same time, potencialize cultural and environmental recycling as a sustainable method for production.
This Organization of the Civil Society of Public Interest (OSCIP) is considered one of the most representative projects in this area of action, becoming a reference for the development of politics in mental health. The entity utilizes the craft recycling of paper and creation of resulting products as main strategy of therapeutic and partner-cultural enclosure, beyond protecting the environment. With this work the Project became one of the main producers of craft paper on the state of São Paulo.