Role Models

A Role Model can be any member of our society who is willing to share its history, experience or skills with a specific audience and should participate in it on a voluntary basis.

Although the selection of Role Models is made nationally / locally, a common set of characteristics defined by the European Commission is required for Role Models in all participating countries. These characteristics / selection criteria are:

Adherence to the values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union and values promoted by the Paris Declaration;
Readiness to engage in the initiative on a voluntary basis;
The person should have a personal story or an occupation/activity they are passionate about to share;
The person should be a good communicator and able to facilitate a dialogue in an audience
- Preferably coming from disadvantaged backgrounds to whom the target group can relate to;
- Preferably , be a person with disability (with special needs - NE) and / or who responds to the interests of the City Council;
- Priority, when possible, to participants in European programs for Education, Training, Youth and Sport;
- The age of adulthood.

The partner, with NA’s support, should define and implement the necessary training for the Role Models in order to ensure the understanding of the initiative and a common approach on the message and the objective of each intervention.

If you want to have a Role Model of your region participating in an event, please contact the person in the respective municipality.

Role Models:

North Region:

Paredes Town Hall

Diana Pacheco

19 years old. Academic path: 12th grade in science and technology and attending the Social Education course at the ESE of Porto. Golf emerged in Diana's life through a club that was set up right next to her home: the Aqueduto golf course, in Paredes. Her father, Mr. Pacheco, is responsible for maintaining the green and it was through him that Diana started to 'play' with the clubs and the balls.
At the age of 12 she started playing golf (it should be noted that at school she never liked to practice any gymnastics or sports). However, since she started playing golf, her taste for sport has changed radically and her attitude and social integration have also gained new dynamics.
Some prizes and titles:

champion of the Club in 2014;
1st Lady at the III Open Portugal P&P 2017;
National P&P U-16 youth champion in 2016;
National P&P runner-up in 2017;
Under-18 National Youth P&P Champion in 2018
Under-18 National Youth Champion in 2018.

Santa Maria da Feira Town Hall

Catarina Bento

38, suffers from Friedrich's ataxia, a rare progressive degenerative neuromuscular disease. She has a degree in Marketing and Advertising and works as an Administrative Assistant at the Municipality of Santa Maria da Feira. She has been working on accessibility and mobility issues, namely, in the county's events. She has already taken part in two Erasmus+ exchanges. She also likes to dance and is a member of the Lab in Dança group, a municipal inclusive dance project, which is co-financed by the Gulbenkian Foundation.

Joaquim Ribeiro

45, paraplegic and activist in the Cure of Spinal Cord Injury. He is a football coach and has a degree in Sports Administration and Management and in the Coaching area and he is author of two books. In addition, he has also been a speaker in several training sessions / lectures to coaches of diverse sports, referees and clubs, commentator on Sport TV program and participated in the TVI program " The afternoon is yours ".

Vila Real Town Hall

Marta

21 years old. She was born in a village in the municipality of Vila Real, and in a house with precarious conditions. The household's main means of subsistence came from agricultural work. Her parents separated when she was born, and her father died when she was just 3 years old. At the age of 2, the family (Marta, her brother and mother) had the possibility of having better housing in a social neighborhood. His whole childhood was ruled by difficulties and conditioned, having access only to essential goods. Marta always loved football and started playing at a local club very early, currently being federated in a women's footsal club. She started working at 17 to be able to contribute to the household budget.
Marta attended school in public schools in Vila Real with good performance. She took the Solar Panels Course that corresponded to the 12th grade. However, unfortunately she did not succeed in entering the job market in this area of school and professional qualification. She would have liked to enter University, but has not yet had the opportunity to achieve that dream.
Marta's choice as a role model is based on her inspiring life path, which may serve as an example to many children and young people who attend the "+ Social" Project space.
At this moment, Marta embraced a project as a social promoter in a social neighborhood, sharing her dynamics with children and young people, many of them in need and some with social and family vulnerability. Marta assumes herself as an inspiring model, since she transmits a life experience that she is very proud of, where she has always been based on humility, acceptance and the struggle to achieve her goals.

Centre Region:

Fundão Town Hall

Miguel Geraldes

38 years old. He is from Castelo Novo - Fundão. He has a degree in Journalism; Master black belt in Karate and Associate Leader. From an early age he became involved in associativism and working with young people; dedicated, disciplined and passionate about nature. He has never given up to the difficulties and has always faced the challenges of a young man who was boen in a small village in the interior of the country, where many had gone away, leaving dreams, projects and family behind. He is currently President of Associação Juvenil Histórico Associação de Artes, an entity involved in several international mobility projects, from the arts, inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities, sport and social innovation. Mestre Miguel Geraldes is a model cherished and recognized in the local community, always ready to provide his service and share his knowledge.

Torres Vedras Town Hall

Timóteo de Deus Tiny

45 years old, was born in São Tomé and Príncipe. Singer, composer and writer, he started his musical career in the 90's. Influenced by the great African American singers of the 70's and 80's, he owns one of the greatest soul voices in Portugal and one of the first founders of the hip-hop movement in the our country.
With the stage name of NBC (Natural Black Color), he has been standing out in the Portuguese music scene, namely, for his participation in several festivals (Rock in Rio; Meo Out Jazz, Super Bock Super Rock, Meo Sudoeste and Vodafone Mexefest ), for the interpretation of themes used in soap opera soundtracks such as “Morangos com Açúcar” or “Amor Maior” and, more recently, as a finalist in the 2019 Song Festival with the theme “Equal to You”, having achieved the second place of the competition.
With over 20 years of musical career, 3 albums edited, 1 EP, dozens of collaborations / duets and 60 thousand followers on social networks, NBC is a “torriense” musician.
Along with his artistic side, he has played an important role in transmitting inspirational messages, in favor of tolerance and inclusion. Author of the album "Everyone can be everything" NBC believes that "(...) nothing happens by chance and we have to assimilate the fact that when we have a desire we have to work hard to make it happen ..."

Maria da Conceição Cunha Brandão da Silva

65, was born in Lisbon and lives in Torres Vedras. In 2000, at the time aged 54, she had to start his life over in the city of Torres Vedras, leaving her home, family and friends behind. She started a fight for her survival and that of her youngest daughter, accepting all the jobs that came up.
Then she started a project that enabled her to create her own company and also a brand. She was present at several craft fairs and, in 2008, she was representing the Municipality of Torres Vedras, at the Foire of Paris.
She volunteered several times and ended up embracing the volunteering at the Torres Vedras Hospital.
She did not let age, adversity or rejection be her allies. She has been fighting and keeps doing so on her behalf and on behalf of others. "

Lisboa and Vale do Tejo Region:

Amadora Town Hall

Duarte dos Santos Pais Bernardo Lopes

21, lives in Amadora. He attended public education in the city's school network. He is 21 years old and has cerebral palsy. Currently, he is attending the 2nd year of Psychology degree at the University of Lisbon.

Palmela Town Hall

Samuel Natário

33, lives in Vila de Palmela. He works at Volkswagen in the area of Communication and Social Responsibility. In November 2012, Samuel Natário began to detect that his vision was in trouble and gradually lost his vision completely due to a problem in the brain that damaged the optic nerve.

Anchidim Pop

26, native of Romania, lives at Poceirão Marateca. He is an administrative assistant at the União de Freguesias de Poceirão Marateca. Due to an accident at work (2014), he suffered a serious fall that made him lose mobility, moving from that moment on in a wheelchair.

Alentejo Region:

Moura Town Hall

Adérito Oliveira

34, son of Roma parents, with 4 children. Municipal mediator of the Municipality of Moura since 2009. Participant in the ROMED project and in the Community Active Group. He provides assistance, referrals and participates in initiatives that facilitate the access of Roma communities to local services and equipment. He promotes the facilitation of communication between Roma and non-Roma communities in terms of conflict solving and other situations. Distinguished by the Letras Nómadas Association with the National Prize for Gypsy Mediator of the Year (2015). He is an Evangelical pastor.

Ada da Encarnação Barão

20, single and daughter of Gypsy parents. Parents are evangelical pastors. Sha has the 9th grade at school. Since August 2019 ahe has been integrated in the Municipal Museum under an employment and insertion contract for people with disabilities. She reveals to be a woman available to share her personal history marked by a certain feminine empowerment.

Roberto Carlos

42 years old. Integrated in the Socially Useful Activities Agreement between the Municipality of Moura and the APPACDM of Moura. He develops his work skills in painting. He participates actively in the cultural life of the municipality of Moura through his integration in the group of popular music, in the Philharmonic band of the Lions, in the theater group Al-Manijah and in the Choir of APPCDM. "

Gerson Lebre

24 anos, é mediador no Projeto de Mediadores Municipais Interculturais. É casado. Tem 3 filhos. Reside no concelho de Moura e é de etnia cigana.

Gerson Pereira Lebre é um dos Mediadores Municipais integrado no Projeto de Mediadores Municipais e Intermunicipais que o município de Moura desenvolve em parceria com o Alto Comissariado para as Migrações. No âmbito deste projeto, os Mediadores Municipais, tem as funções de: Promover a inclusão da comunidade cigana através da participação democrática; Sensibilizar a comunidade em geral para a vivência e a cultura cigana, no sentido de facilitar a integração social desta comunidade; Reduzir o abandono e absentismo escolar e de promover competências pessoais e sociais.
Antes de integrar este projeto, o Gerson Lebre esteve integrado num Contrato Emprego inserção +. Neste âmbito desempenhou funções de operacional na Junta de Freguesia de Póvoa de S. Miguel. Depois, passou a desempenhar funções na Escola Básica da Póvoa de S. Miguel onde acompanhava as crianças de etnia cigana durante o período do almoço, nos intervalos escolares e em viagens de estudo.
Ao nível da educação, Gerson presta diferentes funções, nomeadamente o acompanhamento das refeições escolares (1º, 2º e 3º ciclo do ensino básico); animação de recreio escolar (1 e 2º ciclo do ensino básico); preparação das famílias de etnia cigana para a integração no pré-escolar das crianças a partir dos 3 anos e acompanha as crianças nos transportes escolares; Contribuiu para estimular a participação de outros jovens e das crianças de etnia cigana em atividade de desenvolvimento social e educativo através da arte (música, dança, teatro); atendimento às famílias de etnia cigana no Espaço Internet; apoio às famílias para envolvimento das crianças em atividades lúdicas e pedagógicas: ateliers de verão, semana da criança, carnaval das escolas, entre outras. Apoio às famílias no preenchimento de formulários de matrícula, ação social escolar, transportes escolares, prova escolar, etc.
O Gerson Lebre é ainda Pastor numa Igreja Evangélica. Ele é um jovem cigano com um percurso distinto na comunidade devido à sua integração profissional na comunidade educativa. Na perspetiva de RM, é encarado como uma boa prática de capacitação pessoal que pode ser exemplo para outros jovens adultos da comunidade cigana.

Algarve Region:

Lagoa Town Hall (Algarve)

Domingas da Silva Veiga

19, economics student. She was born in Cape-Verde, more precisely on the largest island, Santiago. She immigrated to Portugal with her parents when she was 7 years old. Her coming to Portugal came about because her family was looking for better living conditions. Her school pathway was troubled when she arrived in Portugal, Domingas was not familiar with the Portuguese language and this made her integration difficult. Also, due to cultural and economic differences, there were several moments when she suffered from bullying and racism. But despite the barriers that have arisen throughout her life, Domingas managed to overcome them and that is why today she is Miss Lagoa, Miss Algarve, Miss Top Model and Miss Teen Universe Portugal. In her last pageantry, Miss Teen Universe, she was recognized for her kindness and sensitivity to human issues, having been awarded the title of ambassador for Peace and Human Rights in Portugal. The appointment of Ambassador for Peace and Human Rights was acclaimed by the President and founder of the Civil Organization Prolibertad y Derechos Humanes in America A.C, Ignácio Benavente Torres, Domingas will have the role of continuing the organization's mission. Domingas joins Role Models to share her journey, experience, conveying the message that it is possible to overcome challenges and obstacles, whatever the economic and / or cultural condition.

Dário Guerreiro

30 years old, cook course and degree in Documentary and Editorial Sciences. He comes from a simple lower-middle class family. In spite of never having faced poverty during childhood and youth, there were some economic limitations that may have conditioned his school and academic pathway - combined with a more humble and contained home comfort. In relation to the humorist career, what would be a geographical disadvantage (living away from the big urban centers of Lisbon / Porto, where this millieu proliferates, and having its own dialect that is omitted in the media) this might have been something that helped him, standing out from others in the same area.

Autonomous Region of Azores:

Lagoa Town Hall (Azores Autonomic Region)

Maria Bem

24, was born in Ponta Delgada, she is a single mother and is blind. She has always attended school and completed Secondary Education with excellence despite her difficulties. She joined the University in the Basic Education course and now she is attending the Master in Pre-School Education and Teaching of the 1st Cycle of Basic Education. At the same time she attends riding lessons.

Anderson Ouro Preto

41, was born in Brazil, he is a professional musician. He has been working in the artistic field for about 25 years, having developed classroom intervention techniques for children and young people at risk, through music and the dramatology of curricular content.

Guilhermina Barbosa

84 years old, was born in Lagoa – Azores; she is a retired nurse. She has a degree in public health, having been one of the first people in the region to take a degree. For 36 years she was a nurse and midwife, working with the community. At this time she attends the Senior Academy and has already published three poetry books.

Autonomous Region of Madeira:

Câmara de Lobos Town Hall (Madeira Autonomic Region)

Lídia Canha

29, was born and lives in Câmara de Lobos, she has a degree in Educational Sciences. She currently works as a Social Educator at Teatro Metaphora - Association of Friends of the Arts. Since 2013, she has been supporting the association with the preparation of international youth mobility projects, under the ERASMUS+ Programme. Also as the association's Eurodesk multiplier, she has been disseminating the learning opportunities arising from the Programme to hundreds of young people in the Region. She has always shown interest in social causes and believes that education is a powerful weapon in the fight against social inequalities, intolerance, extremism and or radicalization. In 2019, Lídia Canha was awarded by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa,with the “European Sustainability Award 2019”, awarded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation to the Metaphora Association, based on the Street Decoration with Recycled Art project, in the traditional Festivities of S. Pedro de Câmara de Lobos.

Patrícia Gonçalves

25,was also born and lives in Câmara de Lobos, she has been a volunteer at the Metaphora Theater since the group was founded. As a volunteer in the association and participating in the Erasmus+ Programme she has changed her life. A very shy girl became an independent woman, without fear of taking risks, living new adventures, participating in projects, making new friends, speaking English and even giving English courses to seniors at the Senior University of Casa do Povo de Câmara de Lobos. Patrícia Gonçalves was also one of the “young models” invited to participate in a round table, organized by the City Council, within the scope of the Youth Week 2019. "