Abstract
The purpose of this work was to reflect how street educators articulate utopian thinking with historical thinking, based on the reports of their experiences over fifteen years of practice. The theoretical framework used is based in the identity-metamorphosis-emancipation sintagma developed by Ciampa (2003) and in the notions of utopic thinking and historical thinking.(Habermas, 1987). The empirical research is based on interview classified by Minayo (1999) as “non directive centered”. The observation revealed that it is possible to articulate history and utopia. The study indicates that whoever embraces the utopia thinking, and wants it to become reality, has to develop the flexibility to reinvent his own utopic projects, therefore changing his emancipatory project without losing the utopic perspective. We conclude also that those professionals who are able to articulate both movements tend to have a post-conventional stance in life.
Keywords:
identity; street children; social education; social vulnerability