The children's book «O Resgate dos Cavalos-Marinhos», edited in Portuguese and English and launched in Faro, by Associação Talentos Unidos, will do much more than raise awareness of the need to protect this emblematic species of the Ria Formosa and its fragile habitat. The proceeds from its sale will be used to help pay «a prize for excellence at the University of the Algarve, to a marine biology student, and a prize to support a 3rd year student, also in marine biology».
Selma Ferreira, a Brazilian businesswoman based in the Algarve for many years, who is the president of Talentos Unidos, explained to Sul Informação that «this project, called Galope, began with our awareness, among the members of the association, about the problems of seahorses». The book is intended to promote «the awareness of children and also their parents and grandparents, but it is much more than that. The intention of the book was always to feed other projects, to help other people».
Because it brings together these two aspects – environmental education and support for merit students – the book has the support of the University of Algarve and CCMAR. In the preface, Jorge Palma, marine biologist and researcher at CCMAR, emphasizes that “this work, written in a lively and motivating way, is a contribution to the conservation” of endangered seahorses.
The story of «O Resgate dos Cavalos-Marinhos» came from the imagination of Goreti Costa, who is not even a writer, as the author told our newspaper: «I am a civil servant, I work in Finance. But my passion is writing and painting. They are completely different areas”.
Goreti Costa has already edited two books of «poetic prose», one of them on bullying, called precisely «Bully».
Now this «Rescue» has appeared, which tells the adventures of Galope, a friendly seahorse who lives in the Ria Formosa and who has as companions the mermaid Serena, the shrimp Bigodes, the «ancient and very wise» sea cucumber Xaveca , Ludovico, «a very gossipy sea crow», but also some humans, like the brothers Mário and Mariana and even Arlindo, a Maritime Police «with a lot of imagination». And there are also, as is always necessary in these adventures, the bad guys. But everything ends well… and after the 24 pages of the book, which even includes coloring pages of the heroes, children will have learned a little more about the need to protect these beautiful marine animals and the Ria Formosa where they live.
Goreti Costa explains that «writing for children» gives him a lot of pleasure, because it is about «writing things that have a little intervention, a message to raise awareness among the little ones. It's not just to entertain, not just to distract, but also to leave a little seed that can germinate inside them and make a difference, because it's children who can do something in the future».
The book launch took place at the Consulate General of Brazil, in Faro, in a partnership between the Council of Brazilian Citizens in the Algarve and the Associação Talentos Unidos. The host was precisely the new Consul General of Brazil in the Algarve, Ambassador José Estanislau do Amaral Souza Neto.
At the same event, the sculpture “O Galope” was presented, a work by the Algarve sculptor and artisan João Jesus, made in partnership with students Marco Coelho, Pedro Cardoso, Ana de Sousa and Rebecca Lima, from the 3rd year of the Professional Course. of Design at the Loulé Secondary School.
The sculpture, explained Selma Ferreira, «is a work that was supervised and supported by the artist João Jesus, made with recycled material, during the internship of this group of design students at Escola Secundária de Loulé».
The United Talents Association (TU) «was created by a group of friends with the intention of helping young people to realize their potential. It is an association that is increasingly focused on supporting training, especially training young people, through internships or the payment of university fees, not only at the University of the Algarve, but also elsewhere», said Selma Ferreira, president of TU, in an interview with Sul Informação.
«Our first project was the payment of tuition fees to a Social Assistance student at the Polytechnic Institute of Beja. We've already given books to young people who need to study, so more and more we want to support people to grow. It is a support project so that the young human being, very young and young adult, can grow, can know more, can be more».
Anyone who wants to make a donation and receive the book «O Resgate dos Cavalos-Marinhos», can contact the association Talentos Unidos through its Facebook page, which access by clicking here, or email [email protected]. The funds raised go entirely to support young students, promoted by TU.
Photos: Elisabete Rodrigues | Sul Informação
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