Alerta

Following a number of years of devastating wildfires across Portugal, one of which killed three firefighters this September, we’re reminded of the importance of charities like Alerta. It was founded in 2016 as a response to a brutal fire which took hold of the region that year. Alerta’s aim is to provide information and fire warnings to the local community living and working in the Algarve and Lower Alentejo regions of Portugal, while supporting the work of the firefighters, or Bombeiros. The organisation says that: “fighting forest fires is hot, dirty and exhausting work with little respite, requiring bravery and dedication.”

It is during the fire season, which normally runs from the start of July to the end of September, that fire stations regularly run short of essentials, such as easily portable food and drink, medical supplies and even dry socks. Alerta’s dedicated team of volunteers work to ensure firefighters are kept well stocked and provided for. Money raised is also spent on new uniforms and life-saving equipment such as defibrillators. Those who want to contribute are asked to donate money or items like water bottles, wet wipes, burn cream, Vaseline and eye wash.

In 2019, Alerta founder Debby Burton was awarded the British Empire Medal by Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of her achievements in support of the local and expatriate communities of the Algarve. Debby was recognised this year, winning the Pride of the Algarve title in the Algarve Business Awards. algarvefire.info

REMAR

REMAR’s mission is to improve the living conditions of people, families and communities in poor countries and regions across Portugal and the world. The charity has created a number of self-financing and awareness-raising projects, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the complete eradication of poverty.

REMAR has several schools around the world with boarding children who receive food, clothing, shelter and a comprehensive education. It takes its vision from the Gospel of Jesus Christ – that each individual is responsible for their material improvement, their moral progress and their spiritual development and that anyone can enjoy a dignified life.

One of the many groups of people supported by the charity is prisoners. They are provided with regular meals and clothing as Remar says society tends to treat prisoners differently and so it has taken control of management at prisons in some of the poorest countries to help improve basic living standards for prisoners.

In the ‘Solidarity Shops’, which can be found across the Faro district, supporters can purchase a variety of material goods, including clothing, furniture, household appliances, books and toys, and the money raised goes into progressing the charity.

The shops also ensure those in need can obtain these goods at an affordable price. remar.pt

Goldra Dog Sanctuary

They say a dog is for life not just for Christmas, and that’s especially true here in the Algarve. The Goldra Dog Sanctuary near Loulé is responsible for the daily care and adoption process of up to 70 pups. Run by volunteers and supported by various fundraising events, sponsors and donations, most of the dogs that come into its care have been abandoned and require costly medical attention. Once they have been nursed back to health, they are ready to find their forever homes. If they are too old for adoption, the charity has a special place for them to live out the rest of their days and the dogs’ needs are met by donors.

Volunteers are constantly needed to help with cleaning kennels, feeding, walking, bathing and grooming the dogs as well as the all-important giving of cuddles. Algarve residents are also needed to foster the Sanctuary’s dogs to make the eventual transition between kennel life and their new home life easier. All vet costs will be covered by the charity and, if need be, food costs, too. thegoldradogsanctuary.com

NECI

NECI stands for the Specialised Centre for the Included Citizen. It is a not-for-profit organisation located in Lagos. Established in 1991, it helps the most vulnerable in the community – both children and adults with physical and mental disabilities – at their centre in Praia da Luz. The organisation plans a number of activities to help the people it supports lead more fulfilling lives.

In August, a group visit to Lagos Museum was undertaken. Participants had the opportunity to learn a little about the history and culture of the Municipality of Lagos while enjoying a day out. Other activities include horse riding with Riding for the Disabled.

Horse riding is particularly beneficial for pupils who have profound and multiple learning difficulties, as it provides a multi-sensory experience which is hard to replicate in any other environment. Apart from the physical benefits, other skills that a riding session can build on include numeracy, spelling and listening, as well as problem-solving. Fundraisers like carol concerts and Just Giving campaigns contribute to the financial operations of NECI. neci.pt

APAA (Association for the Protection of Animals in the Algarve)

Founded in 1994, APAA is one of the best-known animal charities on the Algarve. Over the years, it has rescued hundreds of animals and re-homed many of them in Portugal, the UK, Belgium, Germany and Holland. However, its rescue centre had to close in 2008 as the land on which it was situated was put up for sale. An extensive search was launched, but a replacement could not be found so the emphasis today has gone from rescuing animals in need to helping to pay for sterilisations, castrations, urgent treatments and operations. According to the charity, great headway has been made throughout the Algarve in the past two decades in reducing the number of births of unwanted puppies and kittens, but unfortunately the problem continues. The charity helps pet owners to get their animals spayed or neutered and also helps to pay owners’ vets bills, which can be extremely expensive. As a voluntary organisation, APAA does not receive any Government funding and relies on the public for financial help. apaaportugal.com

Words: Lucy Mayer