“Every person we support represents an entire family”

Rita Martins knows every child who passes through the “A Joaninha” Children’s Centre by name and takes an equally close interest in the daily lives of the elderly residents at the care home and day centre. In Alcoutim, the Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters provides essential social services in an ageing community – a mission supported by the Galp Foundation and which taxpayers can help by making a donation through their tax return (IRS).

In the Algarve hinterland, far from the coast and the hustle and bustle of tourism, lies Alcoutim. The River Guadiana forms the border with Spain, with both banks visible within a short distance. It is one of the largest municipalities in the region and also one of the least populous in the country: just over 2,500 inhabitants scattered across a vast territory, characterised by an ageing population.

Most live scattered across small villages, often far apart from one another. Job opportunities are limited and the lack of housing makes it difficult for new residents to settle.

It is in this area that the Alcoutim Volunteer Firefighters’ Humanitarian Association provides a range of social services. The organisation operates as a private social solidarity institution (IPSS) with two main areas of focus: the protection of people and property, through the fire service, and social support for children and the elderly.

“Joaninha”: where it all begins

The “A Joaninha” Children’s Centre is housed in a two-storey building in the village. Rita Martins, technical director of social services, welcomes us at the entrance with the energy of someone who knows every nook and cranny of the building and every child by name. The tour begins in the nursery, on the ground floor. In total, they look after seven babies. “It’s a figure that worries us, because it clearly shows the risk facing Alcoutim’s future,” says Rita Martins.

We go down to the ground floor, where the atmosphere takes on a different energy: a dining room, pre-school classrooms – currently with seven children – and direct access to the outdoors. In total, the centre looks after 14 children, a figure far removed from the 36 it once cared for. Low birth rates, a lack of jobs and a housing shortage make it difficult for young families to settle here.

Even so, recent years have brought an unexpected change: the arrival of families from abroad – from Brazil, India, Morocco, Colombia and Timor – who have breathed new life into the neighbourhood.

“This has changed the dynamic in a very positive way,” says Rita. “We’ve worked hard on multiculturalism and accepting differences. The children learn this naturally.”

Therapy Services in Alcoutim In May, a therapy centre – offering speech therapy, psychology and psychomotor therapy – was opened, strengthening local services. The new facility eliminates the need for a 40-kilometre journey and will serve children from other schools in the region.

A space brought back to life

Not long ago, the playground at the ‘A Joaninha’ Children’s Centre was out of use. The outdoor area was there, but its condition meant the children could not use it safely. Inside, the situation was no better: poorly sealed windows, inadequate lighting and dilapidated doors.

The refurbishment of the building – windows, doors and lighting – was made possible with the support of the Galp Foundation. Teams of Galp volunteers worked directly on the premises, both inside and out, restoring them to a usable condition. “Before, we had situations where the children’s comfort was compromised,” recalls José Dias Rodrigues, secretary of the Alcoutim Volunteer Firefighters’ Humanitarian Association.

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From the garden to the table

In a corner of the playground, there is an educational garden where mint, basil, parsley and peas grow. The children sow the seeds, water them and return every day to see what has changed: a seed that has sprouted, a new leaf, a taller stem – small signs that they follow closely.

And there is a discovery that Rita recounts with a smile: “Even the children who say they don’t like certain foods end up trying them, because they were the ones who planted them.”

The social interaction they need

About 500 metres from the children’s centre, the Day Centre welcomes the municipality’s elderly residents. Many come not out of physical necessity, but because they live in isolation, in remote hillside villages. In the morning, the minibus picks them up from their homes. They spend the day in company, socialising, and some even go into town. In the late afternoon, they return home, with dinner included. “Here they find companionship, support and a routine. It’s a way for them to stay connected to the community without losing their independence,” says Rita Martins

The association also runs a residential care home and a home care service, which includes meal delivery and help with personal hygiene. Healthcare is provided on-site wherever possible – a team comprising a doctor who visits weekly, two nurses and carers ensures that residents rarely need to travel to other districts.

Responses under pressure

José Dias Rodrigues is originally from Alcoutim, but lived abroad for many years. He returned in 2018 to look after his family and eventually joined the association’s management team. He found an organisation with a rich history, but also facing a number of challenges that had built up over the years

The recovery has been gradual, and not all initiatives have survived. “We used to have three day centres. Today there are two, and one of them is at risk. There were times when we had more staff than service users,” he admits. The care home faces another challenge: service users now arrive with much higher levels of dependency, in an old building that wasn’t designed for that. There is a lack of ramps and adaptations.

People who make a difference

The lack of staff is one of the association’s biggest challenges. Attracting workers is not easy, especially in an area where a housing shortage makes it difficult to settle, even when jobs are available.

In this context, migrant workers have played a decisive role. As well as bolstering existing services, they have brought new dynamics to the institution’s day-to-day running. At the children’s centre, this translates into greater cultural diversity, which is reflected in the work with the children.

“Every person we support represents an entire family,” sums up Rita Martins. By ensuring the well-being of a child or an elderly person, the association is also providing peace of mind to those around them: children, grandchildren and carers.

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Reinforcements from abroad

“I would go so far as to say that the immigrants came to save the day. Without them, I don’t know how we would manage to keep our services running,” says José Dias Rodrigues.

Many arrive to work at the association and end up bringing their families over. Their children attend the children’s centre, integrate into the community and help keep services running that, without these people, would be difficult to maintain.

The Alcoutim Volunteer Firefighters’ Humanitarian Association is, after the local council, the largest employer in the municipality. It protects, cares for, employs and sustains essential services for the community.

Maintaining these services requires resources that are not always available. Donating a portion of your income tax allows you to directly support this work: at no extra cost, you can allocate 1% of the tax you have already paid to the association. A simple gesture with a real impact – in a place where every bit of support counts.