Gostar Editora was created in 1995, by Graça Gonçalves
– a medical doctor and writer.
“Gostar (Liking/Loving) Editora , name of the publishing
house that in itself embodies the myths and mission of this dedicated MD and
writer with eyes the size of the sun wherein shine all possible understanding
and love. ”
Maria Rosa Colaço
For many years Graça Gonçalves wrote for Bertrand and other publishing
houses But an old dream of creating a project of a cultural and social nature
- The Place of Affection - led her to establish her own publishing
house which has worked closely with children, young people, teachers and institutions.
All the work at Gostar goes towards supporting the Place of Affection (which
is being built without any external help, despite these difficult times). It
is a place where we wish that : “all, of any age, may try, from emotion
to emotion, to discover the paths, even if it’s just a little trail, to
get to the heart of others, to get to their own hearts”.
The Place of Affection has already been declared an entity of Public
Interest by the Municipal Council of Aveiro, by ANAFRE – The National
Association of all the Juntas de Freguesia (local government) of the Country,
by the Tourism Board, by the National Co-ordinator for Family Matters and by
the Committee for the Psychological Development of the Child and Adolescent,
of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra.
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This publishing house depends on the work of its founder, who has a very diversified
production- ranging from Games of Affection to the collection of Gifts
of Love – but all coherently interrelated within the subject of the Affections.
This work, which has been recognised as truly pioneering and innovative, has
been recommended by successive entities. The various titles have been publicly
presented by people such as: Dr. Laborinho Lúcio (was Minister of Justice
and is presently Minister of the Republic for the Azores), Dr. Graça
Poças (President of the Foundation for the Study and Prevention of Drug
Addiction), The Judge, Dr. Armando Leandro (Centre for Judicial Studies), Dr.
José Manuel Mendes (President of the Portuguese Writer’s Association),
Professor Conceição Taborda (The Faculty of Psychology and Educational
Sciences of the University of Coimbra), the writers Natércia Rocha, Maria
Rosa Colaço and Professor Fátima Albuquerque (Department of Languages
and Cultures of the University of Aveiro). By means of the publication of the
above-mentioned books and games (both for children and people of any age), the
publishers has addressed a series of problems in the sphere of the affections
and their dysfunctions, which have such preponderance in the relational equilibrium
of each and every one of us. This work is also supported by training courses,
which have been requested by schools, municipalities and other institutions
all over the country (e.g. the Municipal Council of Lisbon has over the past
years developed a Programme, involving all the Town Councils, completely based
on the Jogos de Afectos (Games of Affection).
Various entities have ordered works from Gostar : For example:
The Educational Service of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation which recently
invited this publishing house to produce a CD-ROM in the area of environmental
education. It is called the Jardim Encantado (Enchanted Garden) and it represented
Portugal in Tokyo.
The High Commissioner for Projecto VIDA (The Life Project) requested the
publishers involvement in the production of a video on the Prevention of Drug
Addiction. It is called “Tchim, a droga e Benjamim…” (Atishoo,
drugs and Benjamin), and it was first presented during the 2nd European Week
for the Prevention of Drug Addiction.
The Centro de Recuperação de Alcoologia (an organism concerned
with the study and recovery of people with alcohol dependence) ordered a book
on the prevention of alcohol abuse. The book is called O Amigo Secreto (The
Secret Friend) and was presented by Judge Armando Leandro, at the Centro Cultural
de Belém, and in the Centre for the Recovery of Alcohol Abuse, of Coimbra,
by the Minister of Justice, Dr. Laborinho Lúcio. The Secret Friend
is also recommended by the National Co-ordinator for Family Matters.
"Only by truly believing in the world of affection is it possible
to grasp a drama like alcohol (abuse) and treat it in such a beautiful way.
Adults, above all, educators, will find, in this book, much more than the necessary
science to help the children and the youth of today to understand this problem.
They will certainly find the poetry that cannot be withheld when the building
of a better future is undertaken.”
(Professor Maria Conceição Taborda Simões, of The
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra).
As a sequel to the book, Graça Gonsalves created the game, “You’re
Special” (considered a work of excellence by the Centre for the Psychological
Development of the Child and Adolescent of the Faculty of Psychology of the
University of Coimbra).
The National Co-ordinator for Family Matters has requested Gostar to be
part of a joint venture for the production of a work related with the International
Year of the Family 2004 –which will have various components.
In this context, the new book, A Árvore da Família no Coração
(The Family Tree in the Heart) was sent (courtesy of the Educationl Service
of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation) to all the public school groups and institutions
of private education inviting all – students, parents and teachers - to
participate in the National Family Tree Exhibition (conceived by Graça
Gonsalves).
As there are many solicitations for the Editor to be present at Meetings, Congresses,
Symposia of Teachers and Psychologists, Students Associations or Unions, Libraries,
and other organisations of a social or educational nature, when the work to
be carried out is for a small group of participants, or when presence at the
function is impossible, we use Netmeeting and other communication technologies
very frequently, in order to satisfy all the requests.
This publishing house continues to promote literary contests, and other different
events for children, young people, families and teachers.
There are also many visits to the publishers’ premises, to see the progress
of The Place of Affection (still being built).
The book "The Family Tree in the Heart” was presented on
the 29th April 2004, at The Place of Affection with the presence of
The Secretary of State for Education, The National Coordinator for Family
Issues, Dr. Margarida Neto and Minister Dr. Laborinho Lúcio.
