COMMUNITY
Three girls over 18 years have been mixing school with part time jobs. They have saved from their earnings and are able to buy some little luxuries for themselves. They opted to stay at CASLAS to continue studying and take advantage of the social, psychological and educational support they provide. At school they attend professional vocational courses for catering, bar work or child care.
have been involved over a period of 10 years. They started by donating goods and have gone on to share their time with the young people. Offering practical support like taking them out for meals or supplementing their clothes.
Finally one youngster had an outstanding performance during secondary school. She also opted to stay at CASLAS. She is now at University of the Algarve and has completed two years of a tourism course. She shows a lot of commitment and responsibility.
Another volunteer, Jacquie Collins, told me how she first got involved via the “Lunch Bunch” who support local charities. She gets involved in taking youngsters out and helping to teach them English. She also co-ordinates the purchase of birthday presents for them. Jacquie said, “I find it rewarding to be of use and the opportunity to identify other areas where help is required, for example the recent donation of laptops by the local Freemasons”.
The Youth Home has an extensive multidisciplinary team however funding provides for only the basic needs. CASLAS therefore relies upon donations such as money and time to help enhance the life of the young people. Volunteers have donated clothes, furniture, air conditioning, singing lessons and to get the exterior painted for example. Local businesses and organisations have donated goods and skills such as pizzas, dentistry, laptops, barbeque grilles, cakes and horse rides. Volunteers also help directly with the young people such as taking them to the cinema, sports, camping, bowls or Slide & Splash. The volunteers have a WhatsApp group to communicate and share between themselves.
CASLAS is always looking for new volunteers either to donate money and things or to provide physical help. Appropriate checks will be done but it is not necessary to speak Portuguese to help. If you would like to help, then please get in touch with either: Ana Leal or Susana Pales on 917 775 933 or via email on caslas.lar.jovens@gmail.com. Phil Egginton is a motorsport photographer and journalist who now lives in the Algarve.
A couple of volunteers I met are Canadians who live in Lagos during the autumn and spring. They
The Big Clean
With the bulk of the visitors gone for another year Lagos Municipality promoted several cleaning actions in the county with initiatives taking place between September and October. During September it was the beaches at Porto de Mós and Meia Praia that benefitted from a clean up. On October 1st removal and cleaning of the weeping willows at the Ponta da Piedade lighthouse takes place between 10am and midday. The weeping willow (Carpobrotus edulis) is a species of invasive plant originating in South Africa that was cultivated in the past to fix the dunes and slopes. However, the presence of the chorão
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FOLLOW US ON TOMORROWALGARVE
prevents the development of native vegetation, and its removal is important. On October 13th, it will be Odiáxere's turn, with a clean-up action inside the parish's urban perimeter and more specifically along its secondary roads. The initiative will take place from 7am in Largo da Alegria (near Moinho) and will be attended by the Group of residents and friends of Odiáxere Village and with the support of the Parish Council and local businesses. Please be a part of these initiatives, and contribute to taking care of the Lagos environment.