Roda Viva Community Project - Portugal

History
Following the Carnation Revolution of 1974, one million refugees arrived in Portugal, from its former colonies. The “Alfragide Project”, as it was first known, was started in 1981 by Portuguese and Norwegian members with support from SD International, and began as a kindergarten for refugee children from East Timor. It was built on 600 m2 of land donated by the Municipality of Amadora, Lisbon.
The project grew, so that today it has 134 children and young people from: Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde, India, Sao Tome, Guinea, Brazil and Portugal.
In 1986, the association established to manage the project (Associaçao de Solidariedade Subud – ASS) benefited from a training program with the International Child Development Program (ICDP). That same year, following demands from the children and their parents; space and educational support was established, so that up to 30 children who had reached primary school age (6 to 13 years old) could come back in the evening to do their homework.
In 1990, there was another demand from those who had reached their teens, and the project expanded to provide facilities and professional support to around 70 young people aged from 12 to 20. These youth participate in sport activities, workshops, computer classes, weekend / holiday camps, as well as supporting the project by helping with the younger children.

Activities and Approach
Due to their family and social backgrounds, most of these children and young people are considered “at-risk”, with learning difficulties at school, unstable social behaviour, and not much hope for the future.
Through education, the project focuses on the development of self-worth and individual competence, encourages family participation and the lessening of racial and ethnic discrimination. This educational approach is based on the “High Scope Methodology”, which uses the “Active Learning Process”, whereby all activities are planned, initiated and evaluated by the children.
Roda Viva employs 5 teachers with 3 assistants, 1 sport instructor, 1 psychologist, 1 social worker, 1 cleaner and 1 director. For many children, the daily lunch provided by the project is their only substantial meal of the day.
To create an atmosphere of calm in the project, the children and teachers start the day together, with a moment of quiet, and everyone is encouraged to express whatever prayer arises in accordance with their individual religion or inspiration.

Download:
Roda Viva Project (PDF 800k)

Contact:
Daniela Dinis, Av. Almeida Garrett - Apartado 7517, Alfragide 2721-801 Amadora, Portgual.
Email: assubud@netcabo.pt.