The “CAIS Recicla” project, organised by CAIS (association that promotes the social integration of people in situations of poverty and social exclusion), is the winner of the 11th edition of REN's AGIR Award, dedicated to the support and inclusion of people experiencing homelessness (PEH). Based in Porto, “CAIS Recicla” seeks to help PEH return to the labour market by strengthening their skills in a creative workshop to create eco-design pieces. The “É UM CATERING” project, from the CRESCER Association, came second, with the “closet4all” project, from the Portuguese Red Cross (PRC), Braga delegation, taking third place.
In the “CAIS Recicla” workshop, the supported PEH can develop their personal and social skills by participating in the creation of products such as notebooks, bags, pencil cases, card holders, and pencils, all made from reused materials and promoting the circular economy. The project focuses on providing a safe working environment that simulates labour dynamics and allows PEH to develop the skills they need to enter the labour market.
“Since 2011, CAIS Recicla has been bringing about significant changes in the lives of people experiencing homelessness. This award makes it possible for that legacy to continue and for us to transform even more lives”, explains Alexandre Teixeira, coordinator of CAIS Porto. By winning the AGIR Award, “CAIS Recicla” will be able to add another artisan to the team, thus increasing its response capacity and optimising the interaction with the people it supports. The project provides support for 30 people on a yearly basis, about half of whom are integrated into the labour market.
To be implemented in Lisbon, CRESCER Association's “É UM CATERING” project reproduces the model of the “É UM RESTAURANTE” project, which won the AGIR Award in 2020. The main aim of this project is to integrate people who have experienced homelessness, young former inmates, refugees, and migrants into the labour market through a catering service with an appealing menu created by a chef.
The project seeks to integrate the participants, around 30 people, into the labour market through the support of CRESCER, in collaboration with partner restaurants and companies. It also seeks to develop and implement a training model, certified by the Portuguese Institute for Employment and Vocational Training, tailored to the needs of the beneficiaries, namely in personal and social skills, professional training, and training in a real work context.
For Florencia Salvia, Project Coordinator at the CRESCER Association, “the AGIR Award will help to cover part of the project's costs, namely human resources and equipment, which are vital for it to run efficiently. We are grateful and very happy for this recognition”.
Third place was awarded to the “closet4all” project by the PRC's Braga delegation. This project involves the purchase and installation of cupboards and lockers so that PEH can store their belongings and documentation in a safe and accessible space 24 hours a day. As the equipment will be placed on the premises of the PRC delegation, this will make it easier for the PEH to make use of other services provided, such as healthcare and personal hygiene.
The “closet4all” project is a necessary response to the feeling of insecurity and protection of the belongings of PEH in the city of Braga. “The AGIR award will enable us to create a safe and dignified space for 10 people experiencing homelessness, fitted with 10 individual cupboards for them to safely store their personal belongings. As well as financial support, technical support will also be provided to monitor the results and the impact on the target group. Our firm conviction is that the results achieved in improving people's living conditions can actively contribute to the effective development of their empowerment projects”, explains Catarina Santos, technical director of the Temporary Accommodation Centre at PRC's Braga delegation.
The 2025 AGIR Award will be dedicated to the Support for Informal Caregivers, a topic that has only recently received legislative attention by the Government. In October 2024, the Government approved a revision of the informal caregiver statute, extending it to non-family caregivers, provided they have the same tax address as the person being cared for. The reference value of the support was also increased, and the requirement for the informal caregiver with family ties to live in the same household as the family member they are caring for was removed.
The AGIR Award is part of REN’s policy of Social Innovation and Involvement with the Community. Every year, the AGIR Award chooses an area of social action and awards three projects. The most recent editions were dedicated to the topics of: “Promotion of sustainable development” (2023), “Promotion of the environment, biodiversity, and combating climate change” (2022), “Social Innovation in response to COVID-19” (2021), “Promotion of Employment for Vulnerable People” (2020), “Promotion of School Success and Combating Early School Leaving” (2019), “Natural heritage preservation” (2018), “Labour Inclusion of People with Disabilities” (2017), “Fighting Poverty and Social Marginalisation” (2016), “Active Aging” (2015), and “Job Creation” (2014).
The selection of the three best projects is the responsibility of REN in partnership with STONE SOUP, which accompanies and monitors the use of the funds donated to each supported project and assesses the actual social impact of the granted support. The winner of the first prize is granted a monetary sum of thirty thousand euros, the second, fifteen thousand euros, and the third, five thousand euros.