News and Highlights – Sabe(Te) + mitigated the negative impact of the pandemic on institutionalized young people

Within the scope of the Covid-19 Recovery Support Fund (FARC), created by the Municipality of Gaia to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic, there were many projects, works and activities that the municipality’s institutions were able to develop that, without this help , it would not be possible to achieve this without harming the normal management of its structures. One of them came from Novo Futuro, an Association of Family Homes for Children and Young People. The «Know (Te) +» project was born following the pandemic to help minimize the negative impact on the psychological, emotional and social development of children and young people in care. The aim was to restore the psycho-emotional balance of these young people and develop their social skills, in order to enhance the achievement of their life projects. The project also included young people who left Novo Futuro in a situation of autonomy in recent years, making up for the absence of a family support structure that is so important at this stage of their lives.

The project, which received municipal support of 5,500 euros, included three types of actions, namely: group sessions (creating a space for sharing and reflection), workshops (development of social skills that allowed improving relationship skills) and activities recreational, sporting and cultural activities on weekends and school holidays. Lasting one year (September 2022 to August 2023), the project involved 17 children and young people in foster care and three young people living independently.

It should be remembered that the Covid-19 Recovery Support Fund (FARC) was aimed at Private Social Solidarity Institutions, schools and other local non-profit entities, which applied with ideas for works, projects or activities. The objective was to minimize the negative effects and financial sustainability caused by the covid-19 pandemic. Support was awarded upon submission of a sustained application. It was “extraordinary and non-repeatable support, which had the sole objective of minimizing the impacts of Covid on associations and social institutions in the municipality”, says Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues, president of Vila Nova de Gaia City Council.