João Oliveira e Sousa grew up in front of the Misericórdia church in Salvaterra de Magos and knew the building since childhood. At that time, the temple was in disrepair and the stairs were dangerous, but the boy still had access to the key and would enter the space to play. The connection to the Misericórdia came from family, specifically from his grandfather.
Years later, João Oliveira e Sousa returned to the Misericórdia not as a child, but as provedor. The big difference was that, this time, his mission was to restore and open the building to the public, giving it new life after years of disrepair.
The story personalizes the heritage recovery work that has been done at this institution, showing how a space that marked someone's childhood can also become the life project of an adult responsible for its revitalization.
