Ad Sumus - Associação de Imigrantes de Almada

AD-SUMUS, Associação Imigrantes de Almada, is a non-profit association founded in 2014. We aim to promote the rights and duties of immigrants and their descendants for their full integration into Portuguese society. We focus on valorization and equal opportunities, fostering closer relations with the host society, and encouraging civic participation. Additionally, we work towards preventing situations of risk of poverty, social exclusion, and improving the living conditions of immigrants and their descendants. Since 2014, our Local Support Centre for the Integration of Migrants from Laranjeiro - CLAIM has become an extremely relevant response in the social network of the municipality of Almada. We assist in the reception and integration of immigrants through Ad Sumus, and promote spaces for dialogue and intercultural diversity. This service has been leveraged under the financial partnership agreement established with the High Commission for Migration (ACM), I.P and Almada City Council (CMA). CLAII has, since April 2014, been consolidating itself as an extremely relevant proximity response in the social network of the municipality of Almada, regarding the provision of useful information in the access to fundamental goods and services essential in the process of reception and integration of immigrants in the municipality of Almada through Ad Sumus, as well as the promotion of spaces for dialogue and intercultural diversity. Although the main objective of our organization is the empowerment of immigrant families and their offsprings in order to facilitate the acquisition of new skills and competences based on non-formal education and experiential learning, creating opportunities for young’s discover a new dimensions of interaction where it’s possible every person have the same opportunities to succeed in life being different and making the difference. Our international experience regarding European projects similar to Erasmus+ framework came directly from the participation of our International Project Team in youth exchanges, trainings, transnational partnership meetings and workshops under the Erasmus which helped us developing our capacities and skills in many subjects connected with European project management and international mobility opportunities for youth and adults. At a National level, Ad Sumus team also promotes and participate in local activities in order to be in be in full contact with the communities who we work for. Some of our Activities: • Public assistance in the reception and integration of immigrants; • Conducting employability workshops for youth and adults; • Organizing informal meetings on entrepreneurship, climate change, racism, gender equality, etc; • Partnering in community awareness campaigns; • Promoting cultural diversity events; • E-commerce platform for female entrepreneurs coming from a difficult socioeconomic context; • Promotion of a healthy lifestyle in the community; • Providing services of dental check-ups and coaching; • 2 Second-hand clothes shop run by our elderly volunteers; • Providing legal assistance in cases of discrimination or violation of worker’s rights. • Migrant Employment and Entrepreneurship Office, GEEM, a project that supports migrants by enhancing employability and nurturing entrepreneurial abilities and fostering integration and socio-economic stability. We have a group of senior volunteers, the RAIOS de Sol (rays of sun), who contribute to the level of social support, especially in the solidarity store selling clothes to purchase basic necessities for families with children between zero and three years old. Through this project we are able to promote active aging and reduce the loneliness felt by our elderly volunteers. On the other hand, the Sunflowers that supports us mainly in the Food Bank, in the distribution of food, and in the distribution of food to families with children between the ages of zero and three. Combined both groups amount to more than 30 volunteers.