The person is Eduardo, 19, who has lived almost his entire life in a public square. Samy Ferreira, the young woman who organized the celebration, said the boy made a wish: “To be a fighter for life.”
There are many people who, for different reasons, end up living on the streets, without a home or shelter. This is a very difficult situation, as they must figure out how to sleep at night and also get food.
However, sometimes there are exceptions, and people in some communities organize themselves to help those who make parks, sidewalks, and public spaces their home.
A few days ago, the story became known of a neighborhood in northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where neighbors wanted a 19-year-old homeless young man to have a good moment.
It was a group of friends who organized a surprise birthday party for Eduardo, who has lived in a square for several years.
According to So Notícia Boa, the group bought snacks and a cake to sing “Happy Birthday” to Eduardo. They brought the food and cake to where he lives, at Praça da Bandeira.
The moment was recorded by Samy Ferreira, an event promoter, and photos of the celebration were posted on her Twitter account. Samy said she had known Eduardo for several years.
“He is a street youth who lives in the square next to my house. We always talk when we see each other, and a month ago he came to tell me his birthday would be on March 1. That’s when I came up with the idea of throwing him a party,” she explained.
Although Eduardo had told Samy his birthday date, he never expected the young people to organize a party for him in the middle of the square. “He was very happy, it was very symbolic. This boy deserves to be seen by everyone. It’s incredible,” she added.
Along with the celebration, the group also started a campaign to help Eduardo and raise money. So far, they have collected $1,900, and hope more neighbors will join the initiative.
“I told him to take the first piece of cake and make a wish. He said out loud: ‘To be a fighter for life,’” the young woman concluded.