MARIA CAVACO Silva, the first lady of Portugal, gave a speech at a gala and charity fund raising evening at the Vilamoura Casino in aid of the children’s home, Refúgio Aboim Ascenção, based in Faro.
“Let’s give more hugs and more affection with more quality to all of the children at the Refúgio Aboim Ascenção” said Maria Cavaco Silva.
This was the refuge’s third gala and was attended by several celebrities, including popular Portuguese singer Fernando Pereira and RTP television presenter Fernanda Freitas. After the dinner, which was held on August 22, there followed an art auction of pieces donated by several artists which raised 52,880 euros for the refuge.
Refugio Aboim Ascenção has created the first temporary refuge centre for children at risk, in danger or already victims of abuse in Portugal.
The Emergência infantile, child emergency as the temporary refuge is called, currently looks after 95 children aged up to five years old.
In 2006, 83.9 per cent of the children at the refuge were homed, 34 of them with new adopted families while the rest returned to their original families with regular state supervision.
Luis Villas-Boas, director of the refuge, said: “This gala was a great help for the refuge to continue its work for each child to have the right to a family in Portugal.”
Do you have a view on this story? Email: editor@portugalresident.com
