Community
Give a child a bed this Christmas After receiving an anonymous tip-off about a young people's home in Portimão that would benefit from some charity this Christmas, Tomorrow magazine was keen to help. We sent reporter Sophie Sadler to find out more. On arrival at the The House of Our Lady of the Conception, I am met at the door by Ana, the in-house psychologist and Fernando, the vice president. They give me a lovely welcome and I am shown into the family liaison room for a chat. We are immediately interrupted by the arrival of their longest resident, Ana Sofia, who has Cerebral Palsy and now, aged 59, has lived there since 1968. She has no family and the centre is the only home she knows so she is allowed to live there. She cuddles up to Fernando before taking a seat to observe our interview. Apart from Ana Sofia, I learn that they currently house 36 at-risk children and adolescents aged from four to 21. It is a private institution and has a similar function as CASLAS in Lagos. The next interruption is from a beautiful 7-year-old girl, who has come in to see who the strange visitor is! She has beautiful glossy brown hair and stares at me with big eyes as she hugs Fernando and I try to get her to tell me her name. She eventually whispers that her name is Francisca. She is at home from school today as her class teacher is away and immediately my heart melts as she is the same age as my daughter and she does not have a proper home.
While we are not allowed, under Portuguese law, to discuss individual circumstances and the names of residents have been changed, but they can tell me that she has been assigned to the home by the court as she has suffered either abuse or neglect at home. She has been living at the centre for 2 years and it is hoped that she can return to her family, but if not she can remain in the centre until she is 21. Ana, who has worked at the house for 8 years, give counselling to the girls or sometimes this is outsourced, depending on the case. Many of the girls have behavioural problems and the centre tries to work with the families, however, as Ana explains; “Sometimes the family does not match our goals so it is not possible.” A second girl, the same age, enters the room and sits on Ana´s lap, she is called Barbara and has lived in the centre for a year. Both girls attend a school which is located just across the road from the centre. After school, the home tries to organise extra-curricular activites for the girls such as dancing or swimming, some of which are done on site or through external clubs. They currently have a dance teacher who gives their services free of charge but they would love to hear from any other
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person who would volunteer to teach a fun activity. The charity was originally established in 1949 by Manuel Vitorino Correia, then Parish priest of Portimão, however the home in its current incarnation was established by Dra Mercedes Leote who was president from 1949-1967. It was run by the five Dominican Sisters of Santa Catarina de Sena who lived with the girls but all of the nuns became too old to continue and with no young novices to take over, the centre is now run by a committee, a staff of 18 and volunteers, with help from the community. Fernando is an architect and is one of the people who gives his time for free. He tells me; “I have children of my own so when I come here and am able to help, it gives me a good feeling in my heart.” The home has been located in the current building, in the area of Coca Maravilhas near Portimão Acqua shopping centre since 1990. The building does feel institutional and Ana points out it would be built differently now, however, all the staff are incredibly vibrant and friendly. When the charity began families would have brought girls there if they were too poor or unable to take care of them but now all are sent by the commissions of protection of