Social projects, especially for the elderly, are a main focus of the work of the association in Portugal. General Praeses Msgr. Christoph Huber had the opportunity to visit the association at the end of September.
‘Lamego, an hour’s drive from Porto, is the location of the headquarters of Kolping Portugal. A very committed board welcomed me there in very uncharacteristic weather for the grape harvest: fog and rain. In Lamego, there is the Kolping House, a building constructed in the style of a vocational training centre. Until the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, measures implemented by Kolping were also taking place there. However, after the school age was raised a few years ago and the corresponding training courses are now taking place in schools, it was no longer possible to tie in with this. Today, the centre is used for conferences, courses and offers from a wide range of organisers, and some rooms are rented out as hotel rooms.
Various projects for young and old
The Kolping Association in Portugal implements various projects for young and old: the association offers school meals for children, as some come to school without breakfast. Young people are supported during their training, which they would not be able to manage alone. And for families, the association offers family days, where the focus is on joint activities, games and fun.
Help for senior citizens
Many members live in remote villages. This is a great challenge for elderly people because many young people moved away and only the elderly stayed. There is hardly any infrastructure, there are no shops, there are no buses and many elderly people are lonely. This is why Kolping Portugal is increasingly caring about the elderly and offers day care: Elderly people are picked up and spend the day in the Kolping House. There are various activities on offer and a hot meal at lunchtime. After the afternoon programme, the seniors receive a packed lunch for the evening and are driven back home. In addition, their apartment is cleaned once a week.
In another Kolping House, seasonal workers from Nepal find accommodation who would otherwise sleep on the fields. I was particularly touched by the concern for the elderly, who would have a sad existence without Kolping with little support.’