Portuguese Red Cross - Local Branch of Cucujães

The Portuguese Red Cross - Local Branch of Cucujães is integrated in the International Red

Cross and Red Crescent Movement through the Portuguese Red Cross National Society which

has been operating in emerging scenarios of armed conflict and natural disasters both in

Portugal and abroad.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the biggest Humanitarian Organization and

one of the Big 6 Youth Organizations in the world, reaching over 150 million beneficiaries. The

Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is present in more than 190 countries. As a Local

Branch of the Portuguese Red Cross, based in Vila de Cucujães, the organization is serving

the local community and surrounding towns such as Oliveira de Azeméis, Santiago de Riba

Ul, Loureiro, Nogueira do Cravo etc.

The organization’s intervention is in line with the seven Fundamental Principles of the

International Movement of Red Cross/ Red Crescent: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality,

Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality.

The main aim that the Organization works towards is to provide assistance without

discrimination in order to improve the lives of vulnerable people through direct essential

assistance, capacity building, advocacy and by encouraging community development. The

organization has a very wide scope of action with different activities and projects being

implemented for different target groups/ beneficiaries. The organization’s approach aims at

reducing inequalities and guarantee equal access to social welfare, education, job

opportunities and healthcare.

The Local Branch of Cucujães was established in 1980 and has, since then, been a dynamic

agent and partner in all projects that value the community and its citizens. Additionally to the

relevant work it carries out in the social and health fields, it also promotes cultural activities,

the professional qualification of young people and adults, activities of capacity building and,

in all of its action, promotes equality, non-discrimination, inclusion and Human Rights.

The Portuguese Red Cross - Local Branch of Cucujães carries out different activities for

different target groups. In terms of Youth, the Organization holds a valid Quality Label in the

framework of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Programme which allows for hosting,

sending and leading projects and volunteers and has had more than 8 successful completed

projects, having hosted more than 80 volunteers and sent more than 35 portuguese volunteers

abroad (since 2018).

Additionally, to the work developed with ESC, the Organization holds an Erasmus Accreditation

in Youth and is active in the Erasmus+ Programme mainly in KA1 and KA2, having successfully

hosted Youth Exchanges, Advanced Planning Visits, Partners Meetings, International

Seminars, Training Courses and other activities alike while also supporting the participation

of young people and youth workers in these sorts of activities, organized by partners, abroad.

The Organization has expertise in the following topics: Design Thinking, Civic Participation,

Volunteering, Living in Diversity, Human Rights, Disaster Preparedness and Post Recovery,

First AID and Basic Life support.

These International cooperation projects in which the Organization gets involved, always

benefit the local community, especially young people with fewer opportunities. These projects

provide local youth with the opportunity to gain knowledge and put it into practice, improving

their competences (e.g. in foreign language, cultural awareness, European values) and

promoting their academic and professional development. Additionally, the involvement in

projects such as Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps allow the internationalization of the

Local Branch and of the Portuguese Red Cross structure, strengthening national and

international networks.