The projects “Lighthouse Portugal”, by the Vale da Benção Community Association, and “Volunteer Portugal”, by Fernando João da Cruz, were distinguished in the fifth edition of the Municipal Volunteer Award, which was presented in the small auditorium of the Municipal Theater of Portimão (TIME).
The ceremony marked International Volunteer Day, on December 5th, being the first official moment of the celebrations of the 99th anniversary of Portimão's elevation to the category of city, which is celebrated on December 11th, with the municipal holiday.
“Lighthouse Portugal”, distinguished in the Collective category, was born from the efforts of teachers and educators who aim to help reestablish the balance in access to school support and improve the socio-emotional conditions of the community, with pre-adolescents and adolescents from needy or low-resource families.
The objective of this project is to promote academic success, combat school dropout and carry out healthy leisure activities for more harmonious growth. Therefore, whenever possible, donations will be distributed to families who seek the project.
The “Volunteer Portugal” project, distinguished in the Individual category, consists of the creation of a digital platform aimed at training volunteer teams and establishing bridges between them, national projects and partner entities.
Young people will be able to learn about the projects in force on the desired date, form their own teams together with other young people registered on the platform, have access to technical training aimed at implementing the selected project and share ideas with both co-workers and entities Volunteer Portugal partners.
In the 5th Municipal Volunteer Award, each winner received 6.500 euros.
Certificates of participation were also given to the projects “Oficinas de Pintura Comunidade Criativa”, from Santa da Misericórdia de Portimão, “EnviroCare Portimão: Empowering Portimão through Environmental Action and Education”, from Dots – Connecting Learners for Development, and “Ser Mulher, Being Life”, by Liliana Dolores.
In both categories, the second prize was not awarded in accordance with point 2 of art. IV of the Municipal Volunteer Award regulations, in accordance with the decision of the jury, composed of Teresa Mendes, councilor of the Portimão City Council, Mariana Santos, nurse director of CHUA, Joana Bastos, coordinator of DUAL, Nuno Alves, president of the board from the Algarve Food Bank, and Paulo Alves, from the University of Algarve.
Isilda Gomes, president of Portimão City Council, highlighted the importance of good volunteering practices, stating that she is «enormous proud of our associative movement and the way it supports those who need it most, because as long as we have people in suffering situations and without help, we will be a sick society”.
Regarding the Municipal Volunteer Award, the mayor highlighted that «it is not a competition, but rather another way of encouraging creativity, through initiatives and projects in favor of greater effectiveness in supporting people, who are our biggest construction".
According to Isilda Gomes, «for a long time, the municipality has not had monetary limits when it comes to providing institutions that work in the social area with response capacity, through program contracts, as they are the advanced line in combating inequalities. Therefore, and despite living in very difficult times, where shameful poverty is a reality, there is no reason for there to be hunger in Portimão».
Before revealing the winners, a review of last year's winning projects was made, with the first prize in the Collective category going to Teia d'Impulsos – Associação Cultural, Social e Desportiva, with the project “Navegar pela Mente”.
Inês Reis, representative of the association, highlighted that the project enables weekly sailing for 27 users who attend the CHUA Portimão Psychiatry and Rehabilitation Day Hospital, who benefit from a sporting activity that stimulates their social and cognitive skills, increasing self-esteem and promoting reintegration and active participation in society.
The “Oficina Social de Bricolage” project, presented by Luís Norte, from the Support Group for Drug Addicts (GRATO), was awarded 2nd prize in the Collective category, in which a workshop for small home repairs was created and at the service of the older population. vulnerable and needy people in the municipality, in order to solve small day-to-day problems, such as fixing a tap or lock.
The money was used to equip a van with maintenance material, tools and DIY. The workshop is open on the first and third Monday of the month, from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. According to the person responsible for GRATO, since January it has provided support to 21 households.
In 2022, by decision of the jury, an honorable mention began to share the financial value of the 1 2021st prize in the Collective category. This was the “Laundresses of Portimão” project, designed by the Movement for AIDS Problems (MAPS) to provide laundry hygiene services.
This “innovative” project, capable of meeting the real needs of the integration process of homeless people, operates from Monday to Friday, by appointment, and has so far benefited 540 users, revealed Fábio Simão, in representation of MAPS.
The ceremony was preceded by the round table “Volunteering – Giving and Receiving”, in which Nuno Cabrita Alves, president of the Algarve Food Bank, Miguel Veiga, technician from the Algarve Delegation of the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth, Catarina Santos, volunteer from Refood, and Marta Monteiro, coordinator of the DYPALL Network Project – Association for the Development of Citizen Participation.
The Municipal Volunteer Award, created in 2018, distinguishes projects in the areas of solidarity, health, environment, social economy, education and training that promote the improvement of the quality of life of children, young people, the elderly, citizens with disabilities or other people in need. vulnerable situation.
Still in this context, the municipality created the platform Volunteering Portimão, a meeting space between people interested in volunteering, who can offer their availability to provide a set of actions inherent to the condition of active and supportive citizenship, publicizing the entities that develop projects for the development of the municipality.
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