News
In Fundão Community: A calendar with an eye on the future
The Fundão Migration Centre, housed in the old seminary, is a place of arrival, a haven for the hundreds of foreigners who arrive in the municipality, but it is also a point of departure. A starting point for integration, for multiculturalism, for the construction of a future that is the sum of all identities, the sum of all cultures, the sum of all hopes in a future built hand in hand. A year full of activities is just a leaf on the calendar, the next day is always more important than the day that has passed.
January
Orthodox Christmas Celebration - Celebration of Orthodox Christmas with songs, drama, and gift-giving to children. This initiative was aimed at the Ukrainian community. In partnership with SONAE, gifts were offered to Ukrainian children.
Harvest, Lohri and Makar Sankranti Festival - Traditional festival of the Hindu community and which marks the transition of the Sun from the Sagittarius Zodiac to Capricorn. For this celebration there was dance, music and traditional Indian cuisine.
Sport for all - As part of the "Sport for All" project, the athletics section of the Conviviality and Friendship Group in Donas promoted an activity related to the practice of athletics sports, at the Fundão Migration Center.
February
Carnival in schools - Participation of migrant children residing in the Fundão Migration Center or who are in independent housing in Fundão, in the Carnival parade of schools, kindergartens and IPSS.
Celebration of Ukrainian gastronomy – The Sports, Cultural and Recreational Association of the Village of Joanes (ADCRAJ) invited the local community and, in particular, the Ukrainian community, to a meal in which a Borsch soup was served, accompanied by the traditional bread of the Village of Joanes.
Information session on the Social Security system Portuguese - This activity aimed to introduce some concepts associated with the social security system Portuguese. The services and issues dealt with by this entity were also addressed, focusing on the functionalities of the online social security website and how the migrant population can use them. This activity had the collaboration of the Social Security of Fundão.
March
Gender and myths - Celebration of International Women's Day on March 8, which featured reflection circles on equity and an open mic with the theme "equity" (with the collaboration of the Matriz E8G project)
Holi Festival - Celebration of the Holi Festival, traditionally held in countries such as India and Nepal to mark the arrival of spring.
Information session on personal income tax and green receipts - Clarification session for third-country nationals regarding two instruments of the tax and labour system Portuguese: personal income tax and green receipts
Creation of the Cricket Club at AEF - The creation of this group arises largely to respond to the increase in migrant children studying at the Fundão School Group who enjoy this sport.
Information session on the national health system - Clarification session on the functioning of the national health system, and access to health for foreign citizens.
I Fundão Employment and Training Fair, WorkForAll - Presence of mediators who allowed dialogue between migrants who do not speak Portuguese or English and the employers present.
April
April – Freedom and Faith" – This event invited everyone to reflect on those whom we have called "others." In this sense, during this month the following festivities were celebrated: Catholic Easter (April 6 to 9); Vaikishi Festival (April 15); Eid al-Fitr (April 22); Orthodox Easter (April 29).
Information sessions on the recruitment of workers for agriculture: Awareness-raising session aimed at agricultural producers on the issue of Employment of Workers for Agriculture, namely short-term temporary work.
May
Radical and multicultural day - This activity consisted of a day in which members of the migrant communities had the opportunity to try some radical sports – namely, climbing and slide, zip line, air bungee and paintball. It had the collaboration of the Fundão Mountaineering Association, Gardunha Viva.
Africa Day: Celebration of Africa Day (marked on May 25), with African music, an African fashion show, African dance and an African buffet.
June
Painting exhibition by Polina Krykunova - This activity consisted of an exhibition of paintings by Polina Krykunova, a Ukrainian refugee child living at the Fundão Migration Center, at the Municipal Museum of Penamacor.
July
Eid al-Adha - Celebration of Eid al-Adha, one of the two main celebrations of the Islamic religion (along with Eid al-Fitr) in the Fundão Green Park.
Multicultural Film Cycle - Organization of a multicultural film cycle "a window to the world" with the collaboration of the Gardunha Film Club.
August
Neighbor's Day - This activity, part of the Cale & Sangri August 2023 Festival, consisted of a get-together where migrant communities had the opportunity to share a little of their cultures.
Macramé Workshop - This activity consisted of the organization of a macramé workshop open to the entire community and taught by a Ukrainian temporary international protection applicant.
September
International Day of Peace - The students belonging to the "Welcome to school" project of the Fundão School Group, marked the International Day of Peace by recording a video with some tips for peace and harmony to be a daily reality.
October
2nd Fundão Agricultural Innovation Fair (multicultural activities) - In the context of the 2nd Fundão Agricultural Innovation Fair, a set of activities were organized with the aim of integrating and showing traces of the communities' cultures
Cricket Tournament in the Parish of Ferro - A cricket tournament was held in the parish of Ferro, municipality of Covilhã, with the participation of teams composed mostly of migrant citizens residing in the municipalities of Covilhã, Fundão and Castelo Branco
Navratri Festival - Celebration of the Navratri festival, one of the major Hindu festivities that is dedicated to devotion to the deity Durga.
World Equality Day: Event where phenomena such as racism, prejudice and xenophobia were discussed.
November
Diwali (Festival of Lights) - Celebration of Diwali, Festival of Lights, traditional of the Hindu religion. During this activity, some typical rituals of this festivity and Hindu culture in general were carried out, such as artistic productions with Rangoli sand and lights, dance numbers and traditional cuisine.
Vigil for Peace - To show support for all those who suffer from the current situation in Israel and Palestine.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: In the context of the celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Municipality of Fundão promoted a set of actions to raise awareness of this phenomenon in the community (particularly the school community).
3rd District Cricket Tournament - The 3rd district cricket tournament was held with the participation of teams composed of migrant citizens residing in the municipalities of Fundão, Covilhã and Castelo Branco.
December
Interreligious event "Welcoming the Other – in sacred texts and practices" - This event took place at Casino Fundanense and aimed to deepen interreligious dialogue within society.
