The solidarity wave has arrived, carrying with it the help of Agrupamento de Escolas de Aveiro (Aveiro’s Schools Group)!

Statistics reveal an increasing trend in the number of Portuguese people at risk of poverty. With the appearance of the new coronavirus this situation became even clearer, which triggered an increase in the number of requests for help from social support institutions. To counteract this trend, a new and somewhat different than usual edition of the Project “Precisas? Então leva!” (Do you need it? Then take it!) happened this year. The streets were replaced for schools, the “taking from it” swapped for “leaving in it” and our goal? Widened! To collect more goods, to sensitize the youngest and to reach more people in need, that’s what we set out to do. For that, the gathering of clothes and hygiene items was done in collaboration with the Agrupamento de Escolas de Aveiro. Those collected goods will help the local Instituições Particulares de Solidariedade Social (IPSS) (Private Institutions of Social Solidarity) on their mission to assist those who need them the most.

This spring, the project’s red cabinet went through some of the schools in Aveiro, so that it could create awareness amongst the youngest for this problem. During the months of April and May, this “Solidarity Wardrobe” was present in three schools of the Agrupamento de Escolas de Aveiro: Vera Cruz Basic School, João Afonso Basic School, and Homem Cristo Secondary School.

Thanks to the proactivity and initiative of the school community, more than 1600 essential goods were collected and delivered to IPSS Florinhas do Vouga and Centro Social e Paroquial Vera Cruz. Items such as pants and shirts, coats and blankets, children's clothing and hygiene goods will now reach those who need them most. With just this small help, these institutions will be able to assist families in need and homeless people, helping them in overcoming this difficult phase. All of the participants received this action with open arms, showing that solidarity in Aveiro is alive and well! 

“Precisas? Então leva!” is part of the “Underground Division” project. It was carried out in partnership with the Agrupamento de Escolas de Aveiro, Florinhas do Vouga and Centro Social Paroquial da Vera Cruz. It has the support of Aveiro’s City Hall, Corpo Europeu de Solidariedade, Programa Geração Z and IPDJ - Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude I.P..