Portugal
participants
Promote the protection of nature and biodiversity, raise awareness to reduce waste, promote sustainable tourism in a non-urban area, and provide international and local students with an opportunity to interact in an environment-oriented event. This activity allowed the participants to understand local waste issues, how to behave responsibly during an outdoor activity of a body of water cleanup and hike and learn about the nature and culture of a non-urban area.
This activity was organized with the support of two local organizations:
- The Guimarães Landscape Laboratory: a research and educational centre that results from a partnership between Guimarães City Hall, the University of Minho and the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Its mission is to promote knowledge and innovation, research and scientific dissemination, as contributions to an integrated and participatory action of environmental policies and sustainable development, aiming at a high level of environmental awareness, an efficient metabolism of cities, the well-being and quality of life of citizens, as well as the protection of natural resources.
- Junta de Freguesia de Caldelas: parish council of Caldas das Taipas, from the council of Guimarães. The "juntas de freguesia" (parish councils) in Portugal provide a set of support services to the population, ranging from public service work to the management of sports, educational, social and cultural equipment. All the services provided contribute to the proximity and dynamics of the parish to the population.
The activity started in the morning, when our participants (4 local students and 2 international students) took public buses from the Braga and Guimarães to Caldas das Taipas. Once they arrived, they were greated by the President of Junta de Freguesia de Caldelas and then guided to Praia Seca for the clean-up of River Ave. Once they arrived they were welcomed by representatives of the Guimarães Landscape Laboratory which collaborated with us in organizing the river clean-up for 1 hour and 30 minutes, by providing a route and cleaning supplies (gloves, bags, grippers, etc.).
After the morning river clean-up the participants had a picnic in Parque de Lazer das Taipas for 1 hour, in which each participant brought their own lunch.
During the afternoon, with the support of the two collaborating associations, the participants visited the local community garden and the biodiversity project "Bug Hotel". Afterwards, they had a guided cultural tour of Banhos Velhos, Banhos Novos, Igreja Matriz and Ara do Trajano, by historian António José Oliveira. The tour ended with a visit to the Junta de Freguesia de Caldelas and the Tourism Center. This afternoon segment of the activity lasted 2h and 30 minutes.
At the end of the activity, the participants walked back to the bus stop in Caldas das Taipas, where they once again took public transportation to reach their destination. In this case, back to Braga and Guimarães.
This activity is part of the project:
Green Erasmus