ANIMAR - Associação Portuguesa para o Desenvolvimento Local

Animar - Portuguese Association for Local Development, established in 17 September of 1993, it's a nonprofit network of about 200 organizations and individual associates with intervention in the area of local development, social economy, formal and non-formal education and active citizenship, scattered throughout the national territory and islands, in urban and rural context. Animar is a member of national and international organizations, forums and platforms where represents their network, namely: National Level: founder of António Sérgio Cooperative for Social Economy (CASES), member of National Council of Social Economy (CNES), Non-Governmental Forum for Social Inclusion (FNGIS), European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) and regional development commissions. The International Level, Animar is in Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) and Telecentre Europe. It is a center for dissemination and exchange of experiences and information relating to the policies and practices of the actors on the ground, such as the knowledge, concepts and innovative proposals territories. The association's main objective are: promotion of local development, cooperation for development, equal opportunities while improving the living conditions of the population factors with special attention to the promotion of the social economy and to combating poverty and exclusion social in urban and rural context, proposing to intervene in a perspective of encouraging civic participation and voluntary works, to support job creation and promotion of social entrepreneurship, promoting cooperation and networking and also the enhancement of the environment, heritage and identities and cultures as essential elements of strategies, policies and practices in local development. Considering its networking, Animar has several target groups, such as organizations and local communities, which provides information, support and empowerment of civil society organizations which work in areas such as community/social intervention, support for employment and entrepreneurship, youth policies, education for citizenship, among others. For that purpose, Animar wishes to reach potential volunteers, wishing to develop experience and meet the Portuguese context in the area of social economy and partners to develop future projects.