“We want, as an autarchy, to continue to recognize the efforts of those who get up every day thinking of others,” said Chamber President Isilda Gomes in her speech on the Day of the City of Portimão.
The municipal holiday was a pretext to evoke the wave of solidarity experienced during the big fires this summer, having been announced by president Isilda Gomes the creation of the Municipal Volunteering Award, with a view to encouraging the practice of volunteering and recognizing the voluntary work of citizens and entities, with relevant social interest and visible impact on the local community.
The Municipal Volunteer Award aims to recognize projects within the scope of volunteering and solidarity, attributing to them a monetary value in the amount of 10.000 euros each, which serves as a catalyst for their implementation, distinguishing innovative projects, complementary to the existing offer and that have an effective impact with the most vulnerable population.
The 5th of December, the date on which the International Volunteering Day, proclaimed by the United Nations in December 1985, is commemorated, will become the occasion on which the Municipal Volunteering Prize will be awarded.
The Solemn Session of the Day of the City was marked by moments of strong emotion, bringing to memory the great fire of this summer, with testimonies of five volunteers who, symbolically, were invited to share their experience, representing more than 500 men and anonymous women who demonstrated their altruism, availability and humanitarian sense.
One of the main moments was played by Margarida Costa, deputy head of the Firefighters Volunteers of Portimão, who, visibly moved, recalled the days spent in the barracks, where, despite being on sick leave for health reasons, she felt that her place would be there, assuming the coordination of the team that received the food and goods from the numerous people who traveled there, witnessing the solidarity and generosity of the people from Portimo.
For the exemplary and extraordinary way in which he carried out this mission, he was given, on this occasion, the gold badge of the Portuguese Firemen League, the highest award that that entity attributes.
Professor Paula Teixeira, director of the Júdice Fialho Schools Group, was another of the first-person testimonies, having led the team that prepared thousands of meals for the operatives who were fighting the flames. She recalled moments of joy, fatigue, a lot of solidarity lived and even a love story between two young people who met there and now live together, which made her say that “from the ashes the rainbow was born”.
The announcer of Rádio Fóia, João Costa, the priest Paulo Duarte, the humorist Fernando Mendes were other testimonies that were heard, the latter two through video messages, reinforcing the strength of the solidarity and unity experienced.
“Portimão showed what it was worth. The people of Portimo proved to be generous at a time of great affliction. We made solidarity our brand”, stated Isilda Gomes, at the Solemn Session of the Day of the City.
Rui André, Mayor of Monchique, was also present at the ceremony, to whom, despite being from different parties, the mayor of Portimonense Isilda Gomes also paid homage and solidarity.
And this was the occasion chosen by the Municipality to carry out the public recognition of more than fifty companies and institutions that it was possible to identify and that cooperated in supporting the temporary centers created for logistical support and to support the mounted civil protection operation.
Portimão also paid homage and awarded Municipal Merit Medals to Legal and Individual Persons who contributed to the aggrandizement and dignification of the Municipality of Portimão or who have risen above the others for their recognized merit and prestige, position, action, services or contributions in favor of the community or public service.
The municipal merit medal was awarded to legal persons, bronze degree, to the Radio Program “Choque Frontal ao Vivo” in the cultural area, having received the medal Júlio Ferreira and Ricardo Coelho, who in 2016, joined together to make a radio program recorded live, today a cultural reference at the national level.
In the category of public services, Henrique Manuel Mendes Diogo, bronze degree, and posthumously gold degree, were distinguished José Manuel Tengarrinha and Emídio Pedro Águedo Serrano.
Isaura Assunção Silva Borges Coelho was distinguished with the Medal of Honor of the Municipality of Portimão and the title of Citizen Benemérita.
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