Algarve Ukrainian Children’s Center in Almancil

Algarve Ukrainian Children’s Center in Almancil

One of the main tasks was to enroll kids in local schools. For many children it was a stressful period, because they did not know Portuguese, had no friends here, felt lonely. Respectfully, the idea of creating a special space, where Ukrainian children could communicate, have creative lessons (drawing, chess, singing, table tennis), practise Portuguese.
In April, Algarve International School provided the necessary premises for the establishment of the Ukrainian Children’s Center, where classes and clubs for children of Ukrainian refugees are held on Saturdays. The Municipal Lole Chamber also announced that it would help the Center by providing free buses to children from neighboring towns unable to get to the Center. Partnership was offered by Grupo ABC, who conducted classes for the smallest children aged 2 to 6 years.
Between April and October 2022, more than 80 families attended classes in the center. In autumn there were fewer people and children, because most of them returned to Ukraine. Now some of them have arrived again because of infrastructure shelling and power cuts. And now we are waiting for a new wave of refugees in winter. We plan to increase the number of days per week when children visit the Center to enable children to do homework after school and to engage in art therapy.