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A tall boy standing in front of a map.

Standing out for the right reason Standing out for the right reason

Written by LIDA Portugal

Illustrated by Sunniva Høiby-Øiset

Read by Pip Hardy

Language English

Level Level 4

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A tall boy standing in front of a map of Angola.

Edson was born in Angola, just after the country became independent. He was a very tall boy. Because of his height he stood out. The people who were giving weapons to children to fight as soldiers in the civil war wanted boys like him.

Edson was born in Angola, just after the country became independent. He was a very tall boy. Because of his height he stood out. The people who were giving weapons to children to fight as soldiers in the civil war wanted boys like him.


A tall boy holding hands with a woman in an airport.

His mother was afraid they would take him, so she decided to send him to live in Portugal with an aunt. She thought he would be safe there.

His mother was afraid they would take him, so she decided to send him to live in Portugal with an aunt. She thought he would be safe there.


A boy thinking of his mother.

It was very difficult to begin with, as Edson missed the warm weather, the traditional food and, most of all, his mother’s hugs and kisses.

It was very difficult to begin with, as Edson missed the warm weather, the traditional food and, most of all, his mother’s hugs and kisses.


A boy sitting in a classroom looking confused.

He did not speak Portuguese well and found it very hard to follow his classes and the conversations of his classmates. He wondered if it was a good idea to come to Portugal after all.

He did not speak Portuguese well and found it very hard to follow his classes and the conversations of his classmates. He wondered if it was a good idea to come to Portugal after all.


A tall boy playing basketball with his friends.

One day a teacher noticed how good he was at basketball. He joined a basketball team and was very successful. He became popular at school and made friends. He also became more confident.

One day a teacher noticed how good he was at basketball. He joined a basketball team and was very successful. He became popular at school and made friends. He also became more confident.


A man showing a boy how to play basketball.

Now that he is an adult, Edson trains refugee children and others at risk of being excluded from society. Once, his height put him in danger of becoming a child soldier. Now, his height gives him strength to help others feel safe.

Now that he is an adult, Edson trains refugee children and others at risk of being excluded from society. Once, his height put him in danger of becoming a child soldier. Now, his height gives him strength to help others feel safe.


Written by: LIDA Portugal
Illustrated by: Sunniva Høiby-Øiset
Read by: Pip Hardy
Language: English
Level: Level 4
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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