The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity highlighted in Vila do Porto the Regional Government's commitment to the prevention and fight against domestic violence, emphasising investments in projects for the promotion of equal opportunities and in awareness campaigns.
 
“The Regional Government has made a clear commitment to the prevention and dissemination of the resources available in the Region, conveying the message that the fight against domestic violence depends on each and every one of us and that support for the victims is always in operation,” said Andreia Cardoso. The government official spoke Tuesday at the signing ceremony of a cooperation agreement for the development of a project to promote equal opportunities by the Local Centre for the Prevention and Combat to Domestic Violence of Santa Maria. 

The agreement aims to provide support amounting to 22,500 euros for the development of a project carried out by the Santa Maria Centre this year. The assessment of the actions in progress and the planning of future actions were also addressed at the event. 
 
“As that this year marks a decade since the creation of this Local Centre for the Prevention and Combat to Domestic Violence, we intend to continue ensuring the monitoring, sheltering and referral of domestic violence victims, developing prevention and information actions aimed at population, and fostering joint work among the partner entities of this Centre," said the Regional Secretary. 

Created in 2010, within the scope of the I Regional Plan for the Prevention and Combat to Domestic Violence, this project has proven to be pertinent and necessary for the implementation of public policies aimed at preventing and combating domestic and gender-based violence, said Andreia Cardoso. 

As she added, this Centre "has been growing and adapting itself to the needs, goals and strategies defined in terms of prevention among the community and particularly vulnerable groups as well as in terms of monitoring and evaluating the phenomenon." 

During the visit to the island of Santa Maria, the Regional Secretary also visited the Santa Maria Basic Education and Secondary School and the winning project of the 2019 edition of the Participatory Budget in the area of Social Inclusion, designated as "Special Children, inclusive spaces." 

According to Andreia Cardoso, the project intends to congregate professionals and a set of technical and educational resources in a single space to support the development of children with special educational needs. 

These resources are aimed at a more effective identification and monitoring of children with concentration difficulties, hyperactivity, motor, sensory and learning difficulties, comprehension and speech difficulties, among others. 
 
“With the creation of this inclusive space that meets special needs, we hope to contribute to the education of these children, providing them with more and better tools for their integration into the school community and the society,” said Andreia Cardoso.