EVS - MÓ DE VIDA

Meeting with schools for sharing experiences

2011-02-19T18:05:00.005Z

On January 18th, 2011 a meeting took place to exchange experiences about fair trade under the project titled as “Fair Trade: Contribute to the Construction of Global Citizenship.”

This meeting took place in Loures by encouraging the participation of teachers, the Municipality of Loures, Mo de Vida and CIDAC organizations, the guests Carolina Leão and João Vieira and these schools:

- Miguel Torga

- Voz do Operario

- Odivelas

- Delfim Santos

- Sec. da Amora

- Romeu Correia

- Sec. Fernão M Pinto

- EBb 2/3 Costa da Caparica

It was a very interesting meeting to share the knowledge in this fair, where each school built a stand to present its vision of fair trade. This also allowed people to explore the concepts and practices of fair trade.

Thus, during this fair experience, the students were able to share their knowledge and had the chance to learn from others.

The intervention of the two guests permitted students to learn the different concepts of fair trade and economic solidarity.

At the end of the meeting, everyone had the opportunity to express what they learned about the theme of "fair trade".

The visit of Julia and Delphine

2011-01-29T17:45:00.003Z

Visita de ex-voluntárias SVE à Mó de Vida
Enviado por Mo_de_Vida. - Vídeos de notícias da mídia alternativa.

We entered 2011 in good company because we had a visit from Julia (from Austria) and Delphine ( from France) who are two ex-EVS volunteers from Mo De Vida. With them we remembered the good times that was spent in 2005/2006 and 2008/2009 respectively and planned the future of each individual collectively. They follow their paths that will cross with ours. And it is precisely such crossings that make everything much richer.

Venezuela time in Mó de Vida

2010-09-13T18:04:00.011+01:00

Venezuela, which has been the most unequal country in Latin America for nearly 10 years, is currently one of the most fair ones. The United Nations declared this country as the illiteracy-free territory with the highest minimum salary of that sub-continent, with proven advances in health, with an exponential growth in the number of alternative means of communication, etc...For this reason, why this process of inclusion and transformation have caused many negative reactions, attempts at interference, boycotts on the part of foreign governments(including U.S.) and manipulation of information in hegemonic ways of communication? Mo de Vida performs this cycle shows which include documentaries, discussions, food and singing sessions free of Latin America for the purpose of providing a view from the grass roots and discussing the social and political advances in this transforming process.

A Servidão Moderna (Eng/Fr/Esp)

2009-12-28T16:48:00.009Z

The December Jaw Harp

2009-12-16T11:33:00.002Z

December is a tough month for volunteers and the whole team of Mo de Vida: Pausas Justas, Work in the shop, christmas market...
Oustide, the winter came... It's freezing say portuguese people !! You would laugh and say..A winter with positive temperature is not a real winter pa!!
BUT...while you may be comfortable and warm in your cosy home...in Potugal, winter is also inside the houses...Once I was said : "Portuguese architects thought they were living in a tropical country !" and that's TRUE ! No central heater for us...Our punishment for wonderful summers!!

SOlutions ?
1. Stay outside, at least you know why you are cold
2. Hide under the 4 blankets you have on your bed and wait till spring
3. Dance on the electronic sound of Ivette's jaw harp

Guess our choice..let's dance !!

Story of Stuff - A historia das coisas

2009-10-07T00:51:00.001+01:00

Copier/Coller - Copy and Clone

2009-08-28T16:59:00.002+01:00

Books exchanges

2009-08-17T19:22:00.004+01:00

In addition to the others initiatives of Mó de vida,

and following the same idea as the Banco de Tempo,

Volunteers implemented at Mó de Vida a system of book exchanges.
People are invited to let a book they want to share with the community, and explain why they liked it in a short message. Then that person can take away any book let by another.

Arrival of a new friend!

2009-08-17T18:52:00.003+01:00

In June, Mó de Vida welcomed a new friend !

Ivette is from Catalunya, Spain and will spend a year at Mó de Vida.

Soon you will find her profile on the volunteer's profile !

A Outra Margem do 15 a 21 de Junho na Mo de Vida

2009-06-14T21:31:00.003+01:00

PROGRAMA DA OUTRA MARGEM

Aproxima-se o dia mais longo do Sol e a noite mais curta. Ao marcar o apogeu do Sol, os dias irão diminuindo e as noites tornando-se maiores. Contudo algumas colheitas ainda vêm longe, como a do trigo e outros cereais, vinha e outros frutos.

São estes ciclos criadores da natureza que nos mostram o exemplo a seguir no que toca a momentos de transformação que promovam a vida em toda a sua plenitude.

Na semana de 15 a 21 de Junho, na Mó de Vida, poderá participar em várias oficinas, tertúlias, peddy-paper pelo Pragal Velho, gastronomia e assistir a duas dezenas de filmes que farão parte da extensão de Almada do Cine Eco – Festival de Cinema de Ambiente da Serra da Estrela.

Além da extensão do Cine Eco e das várias oficinas, destacamos as tertúlias do dia 18 e 19 e as actividades do dia 20 de Junho.

PARTICIPE!

In a rush..

2009-05-21T09:56:00.005+01:00

May is a month full of events...

After the traditionnal 1st of may, which will give you the impression that may will be cool and relax... then starts the rush ! Delphine told but I thought maybe it would be different ?
Market, Stands, Catering, Meetings...Be prepared...

And June is not going to be that different ! At Mo, we are preparing something....the summer solstice is coming...

2nd class of Didgeridoo na Mó

2009-05-08T14:48:00.009+01:00

On Saturday 16th of May, we organize the 2nd class of DIDGERIDOO at Mó de Vida!
Rodrigo will provide you advices and techniques to learn that instrument from Aborigen culture!

16h-18h
12.5€

More information: Rodrigo´s website

2nd meeting of Banco de Tempo members

2009-04-10T10:58:00.012+01:00

The Banco de Tempo organizes the 2nd meeting of its members !

This meeting aims at making people know better each other, and create or re-create the feeling of be part of a community. Because trust and solidarity are important to stimulate exchanges of services !
This moment of conviviality will take place on Sunday 19th of April, in the Parque da Paz in Almada at 15h, where will be organised a Peddy-Paper before the "lanche" ( tea-time with snack !)

Dia D : O dia da Delphine

2009-03-15T23:58:00.007Z

Today is the farewell party of Delphine, the so called D-Day (Delphine's Day of course !)

Lunch in Monsanto park and dinner at Nuno's and Cristina's with all friends of Mó de Vida and Banco de Tempo...

Mó de Vida will miss you querida !!

Predeparture topics

2009-03-11T16:48:00.005Z

A few answers to the questions you could have before the departure :
about transport, things to bring to Portugal, examples of prices, and the dilema : should you learn portuguese before you come...

Choose your transport

By plane
Localization of the airport of Lisbon
By plane you can often travel with a 20 kg luggage in the baggage hold, and a little one you can keep with you in the plane

The airport is located within the city, and there are various means of tranport to Pragal:
Autobuses ( Company Carris 1.35€), underground, taxis and even train.
Of course, if you let Mó de Vida team know when you arrive, Nuno will pick you up.

By bus

The company you will probably use is Eurolines.The weight of your luggage is not important, but its size is.

Buses are not very comfortable and the trip may seem very long, nevertheless it is cheap and may be a pleasant way to discover european landscapes while you are travelling !

In Lisbon, there is two eurolines bus stations
Oriente station:
it is located at this adress:
Av. D. Joao II Loja G203 - Gare Oriente - Tél. 218 957 398
Sete Rios station: Rua Lucília Simões, 13A 1500-386, Lisboa
Nuno from Mó de Vida team usually picks you up at the bus station.

By car
Roads in Spain and Portugal are pretty good, and there are very few tolls, especially in Spain. Gas is cheaper in Spain than in Portugal, so you would better fill the car up before the frontier!

You can park near the apartment Mó de vida provides to the volunteers, even if it not always easy to find room to park the car. Anyway, once you are in Pragal, you won't need your car anymore, because there is public transports near the apartment.

By train
If you want to come by train, you will have to search information in your home country, and search the train company of every country you cross.
portuguese rail company : comboios de portugal
Depending on your home country of departure, prices may vary a lot. Of course, the longer the trip lasts, the more expensive it will be. That is why it might sometimes be cheaper to buy a interrail ticket.

Things you should bring in your luggage

The flat currently rent by Mó de Vida for the volunteers is very well equipped.
Nevertheless, we strongly advise to bring warm clothes ! Why ? First, because there is no central heating in portuguese houses, and sometimes winter is not so much warm ( at least this year, January 2009 !! ) ; and then because Mó de vida world shop is also very cold !

And in order to enjoy your free time, you should not forget:
- sleeping bag and maybe a tent, for your trips during your stay
- sports equipment, because there are lots of sports facilities near the flat: swimming-pool, a big park, many sports associations ...

Prices in Portugal, a few examples

Bars
Beer : 1-1.5€
Coffee: 0.70€
tea:1.5€
Caipirinha: 3€
Glass of red wine: 2-2.5€
Restaurants
Main dish + drink + desert : about 10-15€
Cinema
With EVS youth card:
Cinema São Jorge (Lisboa, avenida da Libertade) : 2-3€
Others : about 4.5€
Gas
Cheaper in Spain !
As an example, on january 2009, diesel costs about 0.90€ (about 0.80€ in Spain)
Cigarettes
Also cheaper in spain !
About 3.5€ in Portugal

Learning portuguese before your departure ?

Yes!
It is of course useful to know a few words in Portuguese before your arrival, we can't say it is not!
There are lots of books with cds that may help you speak and a basic portuguese in a few weeks.
For those who already speak a latin language, written portuguese is very easy. Nevertheless, oral portuguese is really special ! Pronunciation may seem very strange (lots of ssshhh and nasal sounds) and difficult to understand. That is why watching portuguese movies for example may be useful to get used to listening to the language.
The use of portuguese verbs is also hard to learn, because the portuguese verb sytem is quite complicated, with rules you won't find in any other language!
No!
As it was said before, if you already master a latin language, you won't be totally lost when you arrive in Portugal.
Moreover, many members of Mó de Vida team speak other languages, such as english, spanish or french...you will always find a mean to communicate !
You will also be provided portuguese lessons, from the beginning of your EVS. The current teacher is Rodrigo and classes are scheduled once a week.

Volunteer's main activities

2009-03-07T18:53:00.016Z

These are the activities of Mó de Vida, the volunteers participate in.
Among them are :
- awareness actions
- sociocultural activities ( thematic lunches, cine eco movie festival...)
- assistance in the worldshop
- pausas justas (coffe breaks)
- bancas (stands)

• Awareness Actions
The responsible for these actions is Colette, and as a volunteer you will assist her in this kind of activity. The aim of awareness actions is to inform and sensibilise children and teenagers about fair trade and social based economy, mainly pupils and students. These actions are provided in basic schools and universities and special sociocultural events.

Mó de Vida team thinks it is more interesting for the schools to come directly at the worldshop, so that they can concretely witness the work in a fair-trade shop, by looking at the place and products, and talk to the workers : Carlos and Nuno. That is why these actions are mainly implemented directly at Mó de Vida worldshop. Before every activity, you will meet Colette in order to prepare the training program. We have organised different types of trainings which aims are:
• Understanding the role of every member of the fair trade system
• Comparing the different economical and trade systems : the fair one and the conventional one.
• Making the students discover themselves the concept of fair trade.
We have been using different means : Analysis e of products’ labels, projections of movies, reflection in small groups, games, powerpoints, price comparisons between fair products and conventional ones, debates… These educational activities allow the volunteers to express their ideas and above all create their own tools for awareness actions, and finally develop their own project. (read more)

• Sociocultural activities

Thematic lunches

When possible, depending on our activities, they usually happen once a month. The food cooked is related with the themes of the films showed and of the debates.
Ex: The “hortas urbanas” meeting, April 2008. Mó de Vida implemented a workshop about the creation of a organic urban garden. During this day, we visited our own urban garden and another one. Then, lunch was organised at Mó de Vida, where everyone brought something to share. In the afternoon, we watched a movie about food wastes.

“Cine eco” movie festival
It is organised during the fair trade weeks. Projection of movies about food sovereignty, environmental issues, globalisation and so on.
Participating in these activities helps the volunteers understand that fair trade is just part of more global issues, such as consumption habits, North/South relations, environmental issues, education for development or social based economy.

• Assistance in the worldshop

You will work everyday in the world shop, so it is a very important part of your activity. Most of your time will be spent at Mó de vida. It consists in :
• Decorating of the worldshop, introducing regurlaly alterations and updating the supports available, organising the products presentation.
• Assisting and communicate with fair-trade consumers.
• Helping Nuno and Carlos with the products supplies ( receiving the products, checking them, labelling them with Portuguese translations and prices and so on, preparing the products ordered by other cooperatives)
• Cleaning of the shop

• Pausa justa ( coffee breaks )
You will be Nuno’s assistant in this activity. It a special coffee break with fair trade products and/or from local producers, provided to public institutions and local organisations during their meetings, conferences, seminars, in order to promote solidarity and responsible consumption.

Before the activity, you will prepare the material, and then set up the coffee break, help the participants, give them information about fair trade and responsible consumption based on solidarity: This activity is actually in a growing phase at Mó.

• Bancas (stands)

This activity takes place in fairs or markets: The aim is to set up an exhibition and sale stand with fair trade products. During this activity, you will not only sell products but also give information about Fair Trade and what it is related to (consumption, environmental issues, globalisation, conventional trade…).

Activities created by the volunteers

2009-02-27T14:47:00.027Z

Volunteers could develop their own activities during their EVS, among them are the Banco de tempo exchange system, and various tools for awareness actions.
Volunteers can also take part in extra training sessions provided by Mó de Vida.

2009/2010: Ivette has participated in the following extra training sessions provided by Mó de Vida during her EVS:

Formation on Educational Animators of Fair Trade ; Autumn School of “Espaço por um Comércio Justo” Network ; Jornadas de Turismo Ético e Solidário; Workshop with Cape Verde traditional lunch “Cachupa” at Mó de Vida in cooperation with Escola Superior de Educação Paula Frassinetti/Porto and International Amnisty / Portuguese Session ; Workshop of “didgeridoo” managed by the musician Rodrigo Viterbo; Initial formation destinated for teachers concerning in the frame of the project “Frair Trade:Contribution for building the Global Citizenship” ;
Workshop destinated to 60 schools of Península de Setúbal and Lisbon regions.

Power Point for dissemination of EVS made by Ivette Grané:

see the file

2009: Puppets theater/Teatro de marionetas (implemented by Ivette and Marion)

Mó de Vida has been invited to the Andanças festival during the summer 2009. Andanças is a dance festival with all kind of european dances, and other activities like the ones Mó prepared. Ivette and Marion prepared an awareness action for children for the festival. They created a theater play with puppets about fair trade issues. About 20 children assisted the play and then could see the puppets, play with them and ask some questions. It was a nice moment to share with the kids, we all enjoyed so much the moment that there is no pictures or movies of the play :)

2009: Welcome plan for volunteers/Plano de acolhimento (being implemented by Ivette)

Ivette is actually on a project for future volunteers for Mó de Vida...To be continued...

2009: Books exhanges/Troca de livros (implemented by Marion)

The books exchanges is a small project which consists in disponibilize a space for people who want to share books they like. the idea is to let a book you loved, and explain in a short message in the book why you liked it so much. When you let a book then you can take another one.

2007-09: Banco de Tempo ( implemented by Delphine and Maxi, developed in 2009 by Marion )

It is the Portuguese equivalent of the Anglo-Saxon’s LETS (Local Exchange Trade Service).

It consists in a net of people working together with the aim of exchanging knowledge and services.
The “unit of exchange” is one hour. After the service provided, the one who received it, pays it with an hour(s) cheque to the service provider.

Mó de Vida’s Banco de Tempo was inaugurated in October 2008. The idea of the Project creation was to find an alternative to money and to create a Project in the area of solidarity based economy.
The project was created with the help of Graal , The organisation which promotes Banco de Tempo’s system in Portugal.
Nowadays in Mó de Vida, we are counting with the help of a 4 people team for the system’s organisation. The Banco de tempo participated in Mó's events such as the "Outra Margem" in 2009 with didgeridoo, juggling and writing activities. It has its own meetings, events, newsletter...

Delphine, who implemented the Banco de tempo at Mó

2007-08: 3 tools for awareness actions ( developed by Delphine and Maxi )

aimed at children and teenagers in some fairs or special cultural events

Ø A volta ao mundo dos alimentares _ Around the world food trip

It consists on a shadow puppetry play, where the main character is travelling around the world meeting different little producers from the south of the Globe.
This is a really basic story which purposes are presenting the Fair Trade principles in comparison to Conventional Trade.
We are used to proposing these activities for children from about 3 to 10. It’s flexible, because as we organise it in fairs we do not control the public we receive.

After the play, we usually organise a game related to the story with the children. The one we created was with a world map, in which the goal for the children was to discover where the food they consume every morning for breakfast is produced. Our goal when the game ends is to make them understand how dependant we are from the little producers of the world, and also how important it is for them to live in dignity.

Ø O percurso de uma calça de ganga _ A pair of jeans trip

This is also a shadow puppetry play. But the story is more complex so it is aimed to an older public. Delphine and Maxi have done it once with teenagers.

In this story the main character is progressively discovering that for making a traditional pair of jeans, he has to cross China, Philippines, Turkey, India, Morocco, France, Germany, Switzerland…
The story deals with many themes (environment, labour rights, living conditions in the South of the Planet, Multinational Factories profits…). Dealing with so many different themes, we want teenagers to question themselves about consumption, their consumption.

To go through this story, we have organised a moving debate in which the teenagers have to take positions on 3 subjects related to the story, then to explain their ideas, persuade others and possibly change their mind.

Ø Jogo de 7 famílias do Comércio _ / 7 families trade game

This game is built like a 7 families game, but the families are products (chocolate, coffee, cornflakes…), and the aim is to find all the members of the family and rebuild the chain from the producer to the consumer.
There are 2 games, we first play with the Conventional Trade game, and then with the Fair Trade one.

It’s a game Delphine and Maxi have played once till now, in a fair with children from 6 to 10.
The objective is to inform them about the distribution chain, its actors and realise the unequal/ equal share of money among them.

The Portuguese lessons

2009-02-16T19:35:00.008Z

The formal Portuguese language support is foreseen during 2 months-2 hours/twice a week, by a Portuguese teacher. On the other hand, an informal support will be provided by our team, trying to help her/him to communicate as much as possible in Portuguese. After 2 months an evaluation will be made and the language support will continue if the knowledge is not enough to communicate.

If the volunteer wishes she can complement her learning in the USALMA (Senior University of Almada) or in Fernao Mendes Pinto Secondary School where there are different groups and Portuguese classes. The cost is symbolic and Mo de Vida can provide all information.

Banco de Tempo's Team

2009-02-07T18:32:00.030Z

Banco de tempo system was implemented by Delphine and Maxi during their EVS in 2008.
This system allowing people to exchange services without any money is currently being developed at Mó de vida.
The Banco de Tempo Mó de vida counts now more than 20 members, and is supported by a team of 4 people and a coordinator.

De BdT Team

Beatriz

De BdT Team

Filomena

De BdT Team

Lena

De BdT Team

Lourdes

After the EVS

2009-02-07T18:32:00.029Z

I'm Delphine one of the former volunteers, I left Portugal on the 8th of april, after two more months in Portugal to visit some places I didn't have time to go in, and also after three farewell parties.
It was really difficult to leave Portugal so quickly after that great year, so I took my time to say "goodbye", and "see you later" to my friends.
It's difficult to pass from the EVS and portuguese life to a normal one...but this is the life.
I am now looking for a job in France and I think that my experience as a volunteer will be really useful for my future working life.
And above all, the life after the EVS is really good because now I could come back in Portugal when I want.

....and we are still waiting for news from the former volunteers...

Sports and cultural activities...

2009-02-07T18:29:00.014Z

There you will find some links to places where volunteers practiced an activity.

Tocá Rufar: Delphine met people from Tocá Rufar during an event Mó de Vida participated in, and she learnt with them how to play "Bombo", an instrument used by traditional percussion bands from Portugal.

"TOCÁ RUFAR...… is a leading project committed to the artistic and cultural instruction, towards the assertion of the Portuguese traditional percussion and the musical instrument Bombo."

Gaia: Ivette takes yoga lessons at Gaia, once a week...and it is free!

Chapitô : Maxi joined the Capoeira group training in the Chapitô in Lisboa, a dynamic group with youngsters and people from different countries.
In the Chapitô, you can also participate in others activities, such as circus workshop, dancing, workshop of theatre, juggling...

"A formação é uma área nuclear no campo de intervenção do Projecto Chapitô. Assim, para além da Escola Profissional de Artes e Oficios do Espectáculo, promovemos uma formação não-formal através dos Cursos Fim de Tarde, workshops, conferências, colóquios e debates, iniciação à formação circence para os mais novos: ateliers de Circo e Capoeira."

Parque Da Paz : In front of the volunteers' flat is the "Parque da paz", a big green park with spaces to practice by yourself sports activities, such as running thanks to the fitness trail, or playing football etc.

Arte Pura Capoeira : Marion trained Capoeira in Almada, with a teacher from Arte Pura Capoeira, o instrutor Latino, who is a great teacher.

" O nosso trabalho consiste em divulgar e promover a arte da Capoeira e das danças populares do Brasil: Samba, Frevo, Afro, Forró, Maculelê, Coco de Roda, Puxada de Rede, etc., através do ensino das mesmas e da organização de encontros internacionais e espectáculos por todo o país. O nosso principal objectivo é incentivar a prática do desporto e da dança como meio para se obter uma vida mais saudável e feliz. Os alunos têm a possibilidade de aprender e praticar apenas como passatempo ou até mesmo ter uma formação em dança e Capoeira para se tornarem bailarinos ou capoeiristas profissionais."

Going out !

2009-02-07T18:15:00.022Z

Here you will find some great places to go out in Almada and Lisbon.
In the following places there are concerts, libraries, movies or exhibitions...

Almada

Forum Romeu Correia

There, there are regularly concerts and movies once a week.
There is also a library, where you could borrow book, Cds and DVD. For your inscription, you will need a declaration from Mó de Vida which says that your are living in Almada.

13luas
It's a bar in Almada velha where you have some Dj sessions, workshops and games !

A tasca do grande
It is the bar-restaurant next door, the churrasqueira near the volunteers house!

Lisboa

Bacalhoeiro
It's a cultural cooperative where there are concerts, about three time a week.
There is every kind of music, fanfarre, traditional, electronic, rock... and after every concert there is a DJ. Every tuesday there is a movie, the theme is diferent from a month to another.
There are photos exhibitions too.
They also have a bookcrossing libary.
To enter, you have to pay a card, it's 8€ and then you enter for free. You can also bring a friend when you have the card, and he won't pay the entrance.

Crewhassan
It's a cultural cooperative, where you can have cultural or dances workshops and of dances, concerts, exhibitions, movies.

ZDB
You can find there concerts and exhibitions.

Centro Social da Mouraria (Gaia)
It is a Social Centre organised by the environnmental organisation Gaia, who also receive EVS volunteers.
You have various workshop, diner with movies and debates, political actions, and every month, some concerts.

Chapitô
It a cultural and social association which develops various activities: circus, dances, arts, concerts, conferences, capoeira...it has also a bar and a little restaurant.
Moreover, the place itself is amazing, looking like a little village with a beautiful view over the bay.

Groove Bar
For whom love electro music, like Marion ... From dub to psy-trance and of course drum n'bass !!

At night, the Bairro Alto is the place to be : People everywhere, cheap drinks and music!
cheapest beer : 0,70 cts !!!

Being a tourist in Lisbon

2009-02-07T18:14:00.007Z

Lisbon is good to know by foot, if you are not scared by up and down streets... Lisbon is called the seven hills city...

Alfama
Alfama is the historical part of Lisbon. It is one of the only neighbourhood which has not been destroyed by the earthquake occured in 1755.
Little streets, stairs, clothes hanging at the windows, orange trees... Alfama is the typical post card of Lisbon, and you will probably love it !

Bairro Alto
The Bairro Alto is most of all known for its nightlife. It is the place where youth joins at night to have a drink (or maybe 2... ?), to listen to live music in the countless bars, or just to hang on in the streets... which are often full of people, above all during the week end!
By day, the neighbourhood is way more quiet! You would never guess that there are so many bars open there at night...Nevertheless, it is really pleasant to have a walk there... it is a popular neighbourhood with real people living there (but probably barely sleeping...), and it is a good opportunity to discover all the graffitis covering the walls you hadn´t noticed at night, and which are part of the pleasantness of this place.

Belém
Belém is situated at 6 km from the city center, but it´s worth it! It is the place where the navigators left from, and has monuments dedicated to them... monument of the navigators, torre de Belém, compass rose, and also the famous Mosteiro dos Jeronimos.
Last but not least, the most interesting thing you will find in Belém are its famous cakes, the "pasteis de Belém"... which are like little heavens made of cream and canela...always crowdy, the official cakebaking is open til very late at night.

Museu das aguas livres and the Acqueduto
It was in where the Museu das Aguas Livres where was stocked the water to go in the acqueduc to deliver it for the all city. Delphine was there in her last days in Lisboa, acting as a tourist...
It is beautiful, and it worth a visit. It's 3 €, there is sometime an exhibition (not so often), there is a big room with the stock of water, and upstairs a great view on Lisbon. There is not so much things to see, but as a tourist it's interesting.

Then you can go to the Acqueduc. Take a map (a good one) , it was difficult to find for two French and two lisboetas.
There you can walk on the Acqueduc you will see each time you go to Sete Rios to take a bus or in Universidade Nova de Lisboa to prepare a coffee break. It is also 3€, it's expensive because there is not so much thing to do. But as you are a tourist, it worths it, because there is a great view and you won't do it a segund time.

Travels around Portugal

2009-02-07T18:12:00.025Z

Portugal is not such a big country, but has many different places to discover , here comes our favourite ones..Just a few keywords to describe the area

Alentejo

Parte interior : Where ? Evora, Evoramonte, Monserraz, Estremoz...
Countryside, Blue-Yellow-White houses, Wineyards, Marble, Good wine, Porco a alentejana (Pork with seafruits!! and it's good !!), little streets, dry weather...

Costa do alentejo: Where ? Vilanova de Milfontes, Porto Covo, Sines...
Huge waves, wild coast, no buildings, few people, wind, wind, wind!

Tras-Os-Montes

Where? Miranda do Douro and all the villages all around. What ? Alheira (kind of fried sausage) , Festival do burro e do Gaiteiro em Agosto, rocks, sheeps, a very few people !

Açores: Where? All around São Miguel Island

Three adventurous French had a great trip in the Açores by !!
It was in São Miguel Island, the biggest one at the east of the archipelago.
It's a volcanic island, really green with mountains and great beaches with black sand.
If you go there, you could do a lot of trekings, you will end up tired, but it's the best way to discover the island and above all the tropical vegetation.

Then you have to go to Furnas to cook in the volcanos. There you can also swim in the iron water.

There is a lot of lagoons and hot water spring...

And more :
People there have a strange accent, when you speak a good portugues it's funny because they don't understand you...
cows: you will miss them whan you come back in the main lands;
The transportation is not well developped there, so it's better to rent a car for one day if you are a lot, and also to do hichhicking (pedir boleia), there açorianos are really helpful you won't wait a lot, you can even try with the police car... ;-)

4 seasons in one day, chuva, 5 beers for 2,5€ in Ponta Delgada !

free liqueur in Ribeira Grande

and a lot more....you have to discover by yourself.

Coimbra : University and Bats in the library

Lousã and Serra da Lousã: Where? Lousã, Talasnal
Schist villages, Mountain, Trekking, Licor de Berão, Hippie villages, Peaceful, Talasnicos ( Biscuits only made in Talasnal, with almonds, honey, castanhas...)

Center of Portugal:
Where? Viseu
It's the city with more round about in Portugal (20 and it is small)
You can go there and drink good wines for Dão region, eat Rancho (a portuguese special meal with many meat as always and cabbage...it's a little bit spicy)
The city itself has nothing special, it worths one afternoon there.

Where? São Pedro do Sul
Green, a great vegetation, small village with rocks, a lot of water.

Near Lisbon, Area of Sintra : Where? Road from Lisbon to Sintra by the coast, Sintra, Cabo da Roca
Sea, Hard coast, Castles and Gardens, Azulejos, Touristic

Near Lisbon, Area of Setubal: Where? Parque da Arrabida, Palmela, Sesimbra
Nice beaches, Lost little harbour (Portinho), Fishes, Queijo de azeitão, Azulejos

Costa Verde (North West of Portugal)
Where? Braga, Viana do Castelo, Porto!
Really green, the sea, rocks, hills and churches!
Braga:
Delphine spend there two hours, there was a connection between two autobus. Two hours it's ok to take a round through the city, but you will miss the Bom Jesus do Monte, a great momument with many stairs (they like it in Portugal) and a church in the top. The all monument is black and white.

The city itself have nothing special, there is churches everywhere, may be it's the city of Portugal with more churches.
There is also there a speciality "bolo romano" (roman cake), you can eat it in Frigideiras do Cantinho, a cake shop in the town center. It's made with milk, dried fruits and wine. It's a litlle bit heavy, but it's a speciality, you taste it once, no more.

In brief, you can spend one day in Braga, to visit the city and above all Bom Jesus do Monte.

Viana do Castelo
It's a very beautiful city, in the very north of Portugal on the coast. It's really calm, with little streets and that sorts of grafitis Delphine like.
The is beautiful beaches.
The is also a former hospital boat, Gil Eanes, converted in a museum. It was a boat usde to treat the cod fish fishers in the North Sea. It's intersting and above all funny to visit it, and it is just 2€.

You also have to climb the hill of Santa Luzia, it's difficult to clib, but there you have one of the best point of view of Portugal. And if you are lazy (it happens sometime) you can use the funicular.
Finally, if you go on the port early in the morning, a french touristic guide wrote that you can see fish vendors srceaming to sell cod fiches.

Região do Minho :
Where? Arcos de Valdevez and around (middle north near the natural parc of Gerês)
green, pine trees, a lot of montains, rocks, sometime fires, vineyards, wild horses, abandonned castle, a bar in the twon center where you can drink home made sumo de maracuja (passion fruit juice)

Go there and having trekkings, the nature is beautiful and there is a lot of views on the landscape around.
The cheapest bear in the continent: 0,80€

Mó de Vida's team

2009-02-07T18:09:00.018Z

Short presentation of the main members of Mó de Vida !

Carlos Gomes and Nuno Meireles are the people in charge of Mó de Vida's direction and they manage all the general activities. They will co-ordinate most part of the tasks you will be working with.

Carolina Leão is responsible for all the logistic aspects of the EVS programme and the projects related to the sector of Mó de Vida NGO. Carolina works in co-operation with Nuno to solve any problems or questions the volunteer have about the EVS programme, flat conditions, language training, special difficulties and general doubts.

Colette Costa is another member of Mó de Vida Direction with Carlos and Nuno. She co-ordinates the projects related to Education for Development in the basic and Secondary schools. It is usual that the volunteers support her in these specific activities.

Cristina Maximino supports several areas, but she is more concentrated in the Ethical/Responsible Tourism.

Filomena Martins (Filó) and Lourdes Mendes are taking care of “Banco de Tempo”.

Filó, the last person who is in cooperation with the volunteers, also manages our web site, Mó de Vida blog and EVS blog.

There are other co-operators the volunteers have the opportunity to know. Some of them support Mo de Vida's work as volunteers in different situations or when it's necessary to have some extra help. They are Angela Brandão, Victória Brandão, Sónia Nobre, Maria Emília Meireles, Jorge Meireles, Paulo Meireles, Célia Gomes, Roberto Silva and other friends...

~
Pintas was our co-operative dog. Unfortunately, he passed away:( He was just the collective dog of Mó de Vida. He was a bit agressive when he didn't know the people, but then he was very friendly!
Even if he looked more like a pig than a dog he was really cute and above all very funny.

Presentation of Mo de Vida

2009-01-30T15:09:00.010Z

Mó de Vida is located in the oldest part of Pragal, where the most of the people is senior and lives around the antique "Pragalense Co-operative".

The Co-operative provided Mo de Vida the 1st floor for the Worldshop.

Mó de Vida is a Consumer Co-operative and Develop NGO. It deals with economy based on solidarity, which lead us to develop activities such as Fair Trade, Ethical/Responsible Tourism and Sociocultural activities.

Principios Gerais do Serviço Voluntário Europeu

2009-01-20T17:38:00.004Z

O Serviço Voluntário Europeu (SVE) apoia o trabalho voluntário transnacional de jovens.

O seu objectivo é desenvolver a solidariedade e promover a tolerância entre os jovens, principalmente com vista a reforçar a coesão social na União Europeia. Promove a cidadania activa e a compreensão mútua entre os jovens.

Estes objectivos gerais serão alcançados através, nomeadamente, dos seguintes meios:

apoiando a participação dos jovens em diversas formas de actividades voluntárias, dentro e fora da União Europeia;
Dar aos jovens a possibilidade de manifestarem o seu empenhamento pessoal através de actividades de voluntariado a nível europeu e internacional;
envolvendo os jovens em acções que fomentem a solidariedade entre os cidadãos da União Europeia;
envolvendo os jovens voluntários em actividades sem fins lucrativos e não remuneradas em benefício dos cidadãos em geral de um país diferente do seu país de residência.

O Serviço Voluntário Europeu contribui igualmente para realizar os objectivos comuns relativos às actividades voluntárias de jovens a nível europeu, adoptados pelo Conselho de Ministros da UE de 15 de Novembro de 2004.

O Serviço Voluntário Europeu é um serviço de «aprendizagem»: através de experiências não formais de aprendizagem, os jovens voluntários adquirem novas qualificações e competências para o seu desenvolvimento pessoal, educativo e profissional. Os elementos da aprendizagem consistem na definição por mútuo acordo dos resultados esperados e dos processos e métodos da mesma aprendizagem, na certificação das qualificações e competências adquiridas, na participação do voluntário no ciclo de formação do SVE e na prestação continuada de apoio ligado às tarefas do serviço, linguístico e pessoal, incluindo um mecanismo de prevenção e gestão de crises.

Entre Espanha e Brasil.....

2009-01-20T01:15:00.003Z

que é como quem diz...em Portugal às voltas com o português que até aprendemos muito depressa.