There are a variety of reasons why so many of us uproot ourselves to come and live in the Algarve. Sun, sea and sand, or maybe for the golf, or even just for a better and safer way of life. Whatever the reason, we all seem to love the community spirit that we find here. And that’s just what I want to chat about now: the communities that pull together and help each other.
Community spirit
I recently had cause to visit the local Junta de Freguesia in Santa Barbara de Nexe, a small village in the foothills above Faro. Some very jolly music was drifting from the hall as I arrived that afternoon. Curious, I went to see what was going on and there, enjoying an old-fashioned ‘Tea Dance’, were many of the local villagers. I was amazed to see so many familiar faces whizzing around the dance floor, smiling, chatting and obviously having a wonderful time. The President of the Junta was there having a cuppa, in animated conversation with a group of the old fellows, whilst their ladies strutted their stuff on the dance floor. A one man band was performing some of the good old Portuguese tunes and, despite my inability to speak Portuguese, everybody welcomed me with open arms, encouraging me to come and join in with them. This goes on all over the Algarve in the Juntas and local dance halls - check it out.
Heart warming
Existir (to exist) is a typical example of (extra) ordinary folk who do what they can to help alleviate much of the unknown suffering that many families go through. Based in Loulé, they provide a day care centre for physically and mentally disabled people, giving families an opportunity for their loved ones to be cared for, helped and sometimes even rehabilitated.
At Existir, each person’s capability is assessed and individuals are given a ‘job’ to do. This occupational therapy can involve computer work, making cards, carving, drawing, painting, candle making and even carpentry. Working in groups, the chatter and laughter rings out through the corridors. A therapeutic fitness room, kitted out with all kinds of exercise equipment, is used for those who have suffered debilitating injuries and need physical rehabilitation.
They also have a wonderful room laid out like a regular shop, filled with donated clothes, shoes, accessories and baby wear etc. Each adult in need is allowed ten minutes to browse and choose items which will fit them or their child/baby, affording them dignity and privacy.
A distribution centre is in place, to give the homeless and poorest among us food for their families, in turn helping to keep those families together. Until recently they prepared, cooked and delivered over 300 lunches per day to local schools, thereby earning revenue to sustain the centre. Now the schools have their own kitchens and so the contract has been withdrawn - a severe blow to their economy. Regardless, they continue to cook and feed the destitute each day.
Existir also runs a laundry; cleaning and pressing clothes, linens and curtains, as well as doing any mending required. This pays for itself and keeps capable ladies occupied. A carpentry shop, run by a chap in a wheelchair, repairs, polishes and paints furniture brought in by the public for restoration.
This entire busy centre is run by caring, loving people who just want to help the less fortunate in our society. I’ve visited Existir a few times and have been welcomed with open arms (as are all visitors who drop in) each time. They have shown my friends and me around their spotlessly clean facilities, proudly showing us what their “workers” are achieving. The “workers” in turn are thrilled to see new faces and often spontaneously dish out a cuddle or a handshake, or even a song!
Almost entirely dependent on the community for support with their work they are desperately finding new ways to raise money. A Christmas concert is being held to help them and here are the details if you want to enjoy an evening of festive music.
For 20 Euros per year you can become an associate member of Existir: you can donate clothes, money, materials for their workshops, food for the distribution centre or take along a piece of treasured furniture for restoration. Every little helps!
On a final note, here’s a little story told to me by one of the staff:
A couple of years ago, Christmas was upon us and as Existir was closing for a few days, the staff made up boxes of staple foods for the poorest, to tide them over the Christmas holidays. When they gave this unexpected gift however, many of the people gave it back to them saying, “we have nowhere to cook this food, maybe you could give it to somebody who has the facilities to use it”.
Community Spirit reigns!
Hard bikers, soft hearts
Moto Clube Faro, whose motto is ‘Ride to Live and Live to Ride’, organises the fantastic Bikers Rally each summer in Faro, but did you know they also organise the Christmas Bike Ride?
This huge procession of bikers dressed in all their Santa Claus gear takes off on 21st December from their new club house at 2pm (the club house is based on the Faro to Olhâo road by the BP petrol station).
Armed with all the goodies they have collected to distribute to the Refúgio Aboim Ascensão (Children’s Refuge) in Faro and The Order of Mother Teresa of Calcutta's home for the elderly, also in Faro. These gifts include toys, clothes, food, bedding and anything else these two charitable causes have requested to enable them to continue with their good works.
The bikers don’t advertise this fantastic run, or indeed any other charity works that they do - they just go out and do it. And what a sight it is to see, hundreds of bikers foregoing their beloved leathers, to play Santa Claus on their favourite bikes. Sweeties are tossed to children along the route and, after they have visited the two Homes, where they are heartily greeted and their donations are gratefully received, they all congregate in the pedestrian area by the marina in Faro and hand out slices of Bolo Rei cakes and sweets as well as glasses of port to the townspeople of Faro.
If you would like to contribute to the ‘goodies’ you can visit the club house Monday to Friday from 11am to 1am and at weekends from 2pm to 1am and give whatever you have to the staff there.
It seems to me that right now the whole world and his dog are suffering under this massive recession, with Governments everywhere struggling to cope with this global disaster. I doubt there have ever been so many homeless people, many of whom have been tossed out of their homes due to lack of work. No sympathy is being shown by the banks who lent them money to buy those houses in the first place. Children are often placed in refuges because there is no money to feed, clothe or house them. Old folk, who traditionally spent their latter years in the bosom of their family, find themselves in charitable homes for the same reason.
But there is hope! The eternal Community Spirit is here to offer some help and kindness wherever possible and we can all do our bit, regardless of how small. Just remember: the art of giving - instead of the art of living!
Maybe you live in another part of the Algarve and know what the local Junta’s and charity organisations are doing to help the needy? Let me know and let’s see if we can all make a difference – no matter how small.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.
A caring community
by Sun’s Dragon
There are a variety of reasons why so many of us uproot ourselves to come and live in the Algarve. Sun, sea and sand, or maybe for the golf, or even just for a better and safer way of life. Whatever the reason, we all seem to love the community spirit that we find here. And that’s just what I want to chat about now: the communities that pull together and help each other.
Community spirit
I recently had cause to visit the local Junta de Freguesia in Santa Barbara de Nexe, a small village in the foothills above Faro. Some very jolly music was drifting from the hall as I arrived that afternoon. Curious, I went to see what was going on and there, enjoying an old-fashioned ‘Tea Dance’, were many of the local villagers. I was amazed to see so many familiar faces whizzing around the dance floor, smiling, chatting and obviously having a wonderful time. The President of the Junta was there having a cuppa, in animated conversation with a group of the old fellows, whilst their ladies strutted their stuff on the dance floor. A one man band was performing some of the good old Portuguese tunes and, despite my inability to speak Portuguese, everybody welcomed me with open arms, encouraging me to come and join in with them. This goes on all over the Algarve in the Juntas and local dance halls - check it out.
Heart warming
Existir (to exist) is a typical example of (extra) ordinary folk who do what they can to help alleviate much of the unknown suffering that many families go through. Based in Loulé, they provide a day care centre for physically and mentally disabled people, giving families an opportunity for their loved ones to be cared for, helped and sometimes even rehabilitated.
They also have a wonderful room laid out like a regular shop, filled with donated clothes, shoes, accessories and baby wear etc. Each adult in need is allowed ten minutes to browse and choose items which will fit them or their child/baby, affording them dignity and privacy.
A distribution centre is in place, to give the homeless and poorest among us food for their families, in turn helping to keep those families together. Until recently they prepared, cooked and delivered over 300 lunches per day to local schools, thereby earning revenue to sustain the centre. Now the schools have their own kitchens and so the contract has been withdrawn - a severe blow to their economy. Regardless, they continue to cook and feed the destitute each day.
Existir also runs a laundry; cleaning and pressing clothes, linens and curtains, as well as doing any mending required. This pays for itself and keeps capable ladies occupied. A carpentry shop, run by a chap in a wheelchair, repairs, polishes and paints furniture brought in by the public for restoration.
Almost entirely dependent on the community for support with their work they are desperately finding new ways to raise money. A Christmas concert is being held to help them and here are the details if you want to enjoy an evening of festive music.
For 20 Euros per year you can become an associate member of Existir: you can donate clothes, money, materials for their workshops, food for the distribution centre or take along a piece of treasured furniture for restoration. Every little helps!
On a final note, here’s a little story told to me by one of the staff:
A couple of years ago, Christmas was upon us and as Existir was closing for a few days, the staff made up boxes of staple foods for the poorest, to tide them over the Christmas holidays. When they gave this unexpected gift however, many of the people gave it back to them saying, “we have nowhere to cook this food, maybe you could give it to somebody who has the facilities to use it”.
Community Spirit reigns!
Hard bikers, soft hearts
Moto Clube Faro, whose motto is ‘Ride to Live and Live to Ride’, organises the fantastic Bikers Rally each summer in Faro, but did you know they also organise the Christmas Bike Ride?
This huge procession of bikers dressed in all their Santa Claus gear takes off on 21st December from their new club house at 2pm (the club house is based on the Faro to Olhâo road by the BP petrol station).
Armed with all the goodies they have collected to distribute to the Refúgio Aboim Ascensão (Children’s Refuge) in Faro and The Order of Mother Teresa of Calcutta's home for the elderly, also in Faro. These gifts include toys, clothes, food, bedding and anything else these two charitable causes have requested to enable them to continue with their good works.
The bikers don’t advertise this fantastic run, or indeed any other charity works that they do - they just go out and do it. And what a sight it is to see, hundreds of bikers foregoing their beloved leathers, to play Santa Claus on their favourite bikes. Sweeties are tossed to children along the route and, after they have visited the two Homes, where they are heartily greeted and their donations are gratefully received, they all congregate in the pedestrian area by the marina in Faro and hand out slices of Bolo Rei cakes and sweets as well as glasses of port to the townspeople of Faro.
If you would like to contribute to the ‘goodies’ you can visit the club house Monday to Friday from 11am to 1am and at weekends from 2pm to 1am and give whatever you have to the staff there.
But there is hope! The eternal Community Spirit is here to offer some help and kindness wherever possible and we can all do our bit, regardless of how small. Just remember: the art of giving - instead of the art of living!
Maybe you live in another part of the Algarve and know what the local Junta’s and charity organisations are doing to help the needy? Let me know and let’s see if we can all make a difference – no matter how small.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year
Brought to you by Meravista – the place where smart people search for Algarve property for sale.