Portugal

The Portuguese network's member organization, Associação Check-In - Cooperação e Desenvolvimento, was present in the Conference of the project FUTHURE which was held in Bucharest, from the 14th to the 16th of December 2022.

The partners of the project reunited to discuss social justice and present the results of the local debates organized by each of the partner associations of the project. The meeting aimed to discuss “Social Justice” in the EU and non-EU Countries and to present the results of the three Local Debates organized by each partner organization. This event featured representatives from Xagħra Local Council (Malta), Fattoria Pugliese Diffusa Associazione Culturale (Italy), Fondazione Parco (Italy), Go Free (Romania), YEU Cyprus (Cyprus) and @SERDA (Bosnia and Herzgovina).

"FUTHURE: Fostering Unity, Tolerance and HUman Rights in Europe" is a 24 months initiative, designed to create a Network for actively involving citizens in raising awareness on common values and in the debating on the future of Europe and its fundamental rights. The celebration of the 20th anniversary of the proclamation of the EU Charter for Fundamental Rights in 2020 represents a great opportunity to analize the state of the art and make proposal for the Future.

Thanks to a complex workplan, the project affects a total of 600 direct and about 35.000 indirect participants in finding answers to many questions, such as:

• What is the role and potential of the Charter in protecting and promoting democracy?
• Did, and does, the citizens feel more protected in their EU VALUES, as fundamental rights?
• What is it there still to do assure protection of fundamental rights?

All the feedback and the ideas collected during the 24 local debates will merge into the “Guidelines for FUTHURE”, detailed recommendations about the Future of Fundamental Rights in Europe, as a result of a long-lasting participatory bottom-up approach. These recommendations will then be addressed to the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, in order to be taken into consideration for the drafting of the next "FRA Programming Document 2022-2024".

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Rato - Associação para a Divulgação Cultural e Científica (ADCC), member of the Portuguese Network, is proud to announce the their participation in the Job Shadowing activity, a groundbreaking social inclusion initiative utilizing Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) called “Os Outros”. This project, which began in early 2024, aims to bridge the digital divide and empower marginalized communities through technology.

The initiative focuses on providing comprehensive ICT training and resources to underrepresented groups, fostering digital literacy and inclusion. By offering workshops, mentoring, and access to technology, Rato ADCC seeks to enhance participants' skills, confidence, and opportunities in the digital age.

This project is part of Rato ADCC's ongoing commitment to using technology as a tool for cultural and scientific dissemination. It reflects the organization's dedication to creating a more inclusive and connected society, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the digital world.

For more details on how to participate or support this initiative, visit Rato ADCC’s website (https://www.rato-adcc.pt/pt/).

The Coletivo de Leitura (Reading Collective in English) is an initiative led by Ana Lúcia da Silva Reis, and it will take place on the third Thursday of every month at the Goethe-Institut library in Lisbon. The primary aim is to create a space for sharing, dialogue, critical thinking, and reflection. Through the selected readings, which can be either prose or poetry, the hope is that those who participate will have the opportunity to engage with current topics of interest, debate them, and explore them further together. This initiative is intended to help counteract the polarization and radicalization that is occurring in society, especially on social networks.

This reading and debate platform emerges from the desire to establish a collective, diverse, and democratic space for intellectual and emotional growth. Each session will revolve around a different theme, and the attendees will have a say in choosing the books to be read.

All sessions are open to the public, and no registration is required for those who simply want to listen and participate in the discussions. However, for those who wish to read, prior registration is mandatory. Participants must provide information about the book they plan to bring, as there will be a limit of up to 10 readings per session. Each registered person will have two reading sessions, each lasting approximately 5 minutes. The session lasts roughly 2 hours, divided into two distinct segments. During the first hour, people read aloud from the selected books, and in the second hour, there is an open discussion on the chosen theme and the readings.

Coletivo de Leitura is generously supported by the Goethe-Institut of Portugal, a member of the Anna Lindh Foundation's Portuguese Network. Established in 1962, the Goethe-Institut has a 60-year history of promoting intercultural communication between Portugal and Germany. It maintains two institutes in Portugal, one in Lisbon and the other in Porto. The Goethe-Institut in Portugal engages with approximately 180,500 people each year through its numerous events, diverse training courses, comprehensive information services about Germany, and guidance and training for German teachers and students of the German language and culture.

The Cultural Department serves as a catalyst for dialogue, exchange, and interaction between German and Portuguese artists and researchers. It addresses current German trends and promotes intercultural collaborations in various fields, including film, dance, music, theater, art, literature, and translation. In partnership with Portuguese organizations, the Goethe-Institut organizes readings, exhibitions, conferences, film screenings, concerts, and also supports the participation of German artists in festivals.

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