This study aims to get to know the life project of a group of adolescents at a Basic Health Unit in Marilia-SP. A qualitative research was carried out through semi-structured interviews and group meetings, using the educational group technique with participant observation from the focus of Paulo Freire's theory. Throughout group discussions, three questions arose: what is being an adolescent; what is being healthy and what is the adolescent's life project. These themes were analyzed from the focus of Minayo. The analysis indicated that the adolescents have a life project, in spite of the characteristic difficulties of the socioeconomic conditions they belong to, a fact they perceive. The practice of Freire's ideals enhanced dialogue between the researcher and the group, pointing out that this is one way for a true critical reflection of the identified problems, providing adolescents with a means for making others aware and fighting for their life project.
health promotion; public health nursing; health education; adolescence