Currently home to 82 babies and young children, the Refúgio Aboim Ascenção is one of Portugal’s leading institutions in terms of child protection and early intervention.
Established in 1985 it is a private, internationally-recognised non-profit Christian Charity organisation dedicated to bettering the lives of abused, abandoned and neglected children under the age of six.
It follows a specialised model of ‘Infant Emergency’ (Emergência Infantil) care, dedicated to infants and young children at risk, which has earned numerous national and international awards including the prestigious Diana Princess of Wales Award in 1998.
In 1992 the Refúgio also became an honorary member of the council of the British NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children), and remains a role model for infant care around the globe.
But that is not where the British connection stops; over the years many members of the foreign community and well-known personalities of the UK, such as the late Sir Bobby Robson, have made major contributions towards the home’s development and raising its profile.
The celebrations to be held next Monday will be a nod to “British friendship.”
“Next Monday, 1 June, we are celebrating as usual World Child Day here at the Refúgio. This time there will be no government representatives, but we have invited the Ambassador of the UK to Portugal and the president of BP Portugal, among many other ‘familiar friends’, as you all are to us”, Luís Villas Boas, the intuition’s outspoken director told The Portugal News, in a message to its readers.
“We are having a very special day celebrating British friendship and togetherness. We will be inaugurating two new 18-seat vans acquired with funds from the last Sir Bobby Robson golf tournament gala dinner”, he explained, adding: “All readers are invited!”
During the ceremony on Monday, 1 June, which starts at 11am, a protocol of support will also be signed with BP Portugal, which will guarantee diesel supply for the eighth time for all of the institution’s nine vehicles.
For more information, see: www.refugio.pt, or call: 289 822 039.