Born in São Tomé and Príncipe in 2008, Melissa Tavares moved to Portugal in 2023. She dreams of becoming a doctor. Melissa had already written several stories, but she had never shared them with anyone. Palavras que Contam (Words that Count) gave her the opportunity to truly write and be read. Looking ahead, she would love to publish more books. She deeply misses the family she left behind in São Tomé and is immensely grateful for the warmth and support of her teachers in Portugal.