Scouts and Guides contributing to refugee support activities in their local communities in Europe (3): a story from Portugal.

“‘We see, hear and read. We cannot ignore’, is a famous quote from Portuguese poet and writer Sofia de Mello Breyner. And not the only motive for Corpo Nacional de Escutas (CNE), one of the two National Scout Associations of the World Organization of the Scout Movement – WOSM in Portugal, when they discussed how the association and its members could contribute to refugee support activities in their communities: The association decided to join the new nationwide platform of civil society associations engaged in refugee support – PAR – Plataforma de Apoio aos Refugiados.

This platform was not only set up to support the integration of children, young people and their families into Portuguese communities with the help of local institutions. It also wants to help refugees in their countries of origin or neighbouring countries.
CNE’s objectives in integrating this platform are:

• raising awareness about this subject within the association;
• internal dissemination of the PAR’s initiatives regarding volunteering, support or fundraising;
• encouraging the participation of Scouts in volunteering programmes on local community level;
• and empowering CNE’s local groups, units and Scouts to be able to contribute to mutual efforts as best as possible.“

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