ABSTRACT
The aim of this article is to describe and discuss how school can constitute a life opportunity
and a resilience factor for young people at risk, as well as for those placed in care. Thirty-
three young people were interviewed on two separate occasions. The results showed that
school could provide a place of structure and safety, in contrast to a chaotic family life.
When it was impossible to bring friends home, due to parents’ problems, school also gave
young people from dysfunctional families a chance to spend time with friends, and
provided them with a sense of ‘normality’. When school had skilled professionals*teachers, mentors and nurses*who approached children and young people with empathy and commitment, our interviewees felt recognised and appreciated. The possibility of repeating
a year was also of importance. Providing a school of high as well as stable quality, with well
educated and committed professionals, may constitute an important resilience factor for
disadvantaged children and young people, and thus constitute a platform for the opening of
educational pathways and enhancing of future life opportunities. School could also give
children and young people access to social capital, when birth families had few resources.
keywords: Education; Public Care In Sweden; Resilience; Social Capital
