Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa, Delegação de Guimarães

We are a local branch of the Portuguese Red Cross. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our mission is to prevent and alleviate human suffering, through the power of volunteer work and promote peace and the respect for human dignity across our community, while protecting the lives and healthcare of the population. The Guimarães' Branch was founded in 1980 with the intention to bring more comfort and dignity to those who are in need in this area. We try to do so through volunteering, while respecting, at all times, the fundamental principles of the IRCRCM: Humanity, Impartiality, Independence, Neutrality, Volunteering, Unity and Universality. Currently we have 4 people in the staff, coordinating projects, managing volunteers, among other tasks. At the moment we have around 120 volunteers that colaborate with us regularly. Other than working in social support and inclusion, we currently develop the following volunteer projects: Voluntariado Hospitalar (Hospital Volunteering) – support the ill in the local hospital: doing solidarity visits, supporting dependent and lonely patients, supporting families, etc. Hospital Divertido (Fun Hospital) – Red Cross Youth project where the volunteers develop ludic, cultural and pedagogic activities in the waiting rooms of the Pediatric Services. Unidade de Cuidados Continuados (Continuous Care Unit) – for patients who require special medical needs, our volunteers collaborate to humanize its services and provide the patients with an environment of companionship and support. Cuidar em Casa (Caring at Home) – intervention groups with informal caretakers and psychoeducational support, in order to prepare the families to take better care of their elderlies and, at the same time, prevent the burn out of the caretaker. Colorir o Sábado na Casa da Criança (Colouring the Saturday at the Children’s Home) – our youth volunteers visit a temporary shelter for children at risk every Saturday to promote leisure time, educational and cultural activities. Centro Juvenil de S. José (St. José Youth Centre) – developed at a Youth Center for youngsters at risk and it concerns two different objectives: to promote study time and orientate them in their school work and to promote leisure, cultural and educational activities on Saturdays. Olhares em Perspetiva (Perspective looks) – developed in the local prison, aims to support the inmates through workshops to promote personal, social and professional skills and cultural and recreational activities. Esvoaçar (Flutter) – provide the children of low income families with leisure, education and cultural moments, as well as raising awareness in the community (specially parents) for many different needs that arise (health, social inclusion, citizenship, human rights, environment, etc.) while facilitating social inclusion. Jogo da Alimentação Saudável (Healthy Eating Habits Game) – developed in many branches of the Portuguese Red Cross, it aims, through non-formal education, to raise awareness amongst the children about the importance of eating healthy; Copos… quem decide és Tu! (Drinks… You decide!) – national project, for teenagers or young adults, to promote, in a non-formal way, responsible alcohol consumption. #OMeuSol – Vive + o Verão! (#MySun – Live more the summer) – national project, to prevent the malign effects of sun and heat exposure, using non-formal education methods. Youth First Aid – in partnerships with schools and other institutions, we develop sessions of first aid directed at youth. Violence and Gender Equality – awareness campaigns with children and youth on violence and gender equality. Additionally, we also try to reach parents, teachers and other adults with sessions about children and youngsters mistreatment. Y-Adapt - program directed to develop, with younsters, strategies to adapt their communities to climate change; CVP nas Escolas (Portuguese Red Cross at School) – we visit schools with the intent to explain the work