INTER AID English Short Version

Mutual help in a community is an ancient and welcomed phenomenon of

human experience which can be accelerated and systematized once
coordinated and when based on very simple questionnaires designed for the
inhabitants of a city, district, neighborhood, village or any other
community.

In Portugal, for example, this was possible through the creation of an NGO
(EMET) which I established in 2000 in the city of Chaves, a regional
Municipality of the Trás-os-Montes region. EMET partnered with
municipalities, district authorities, schools and others. The Municipal
chamber plays a key role as the coordinator of the volunteer database and
the activities, designed and developed by the NGO and other institutions
with local relevance.

This Project can be applied to various areas: cultural, legal, health (for
example, EMET launched a free of charge "Mobile Health Unit"), and an
extended social activity.
to make this simple, here is one example:
We coordinated English lessons for children in a group of villages. The
parents of these kids provided gardening and general maintenance services
to the teachers. The materials were provided by local stores, which in
return received a unique Christmas window display for their shops made by
these children's project. The children also conducted interviews of the local
shops' history which were all compiled together.
This Project can be implemented in various levels, from such English
lessons to a major community joint effort for becoming "The City with
Most Flowers" in the country, or a very successful city clean-up campaign
all fostering community spirit and involvement and the reclamation of
public spaces.

The concept and methodology of the Project are registered under my name
in Portugal (its around 30 pgs), as well as the "service exchange" concept

Rua Pinheiro Chagas, 8 - R/C | 1050-177 Lisboa

Tel.: 213 150 924 | Telem.: 919 928 601 | veigacalvaoruth@yahoo.com
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between citizens with a Credit-Points system, where instead of receiving
money, residents earn Municipality points which can be used for cultural
events, swimming pools, museums, cultural events, social and fiscal
benefits etc. These Credit-Points are also used as exchange currency with
other residents. The entire process is kept in a data base

Short outline of the methodology:

1. Inter-ajuda team presenting the project to the local municipalities.

2. Joint presentation by the inter-ajuda and the municipality representatives

to potential local partners identified by the municipality.

3. Development the Project with the necessary adaptations according to

local needs.

4. Distribution and assessment of Questionnaires to the local population

concerning their needs.

5. Awareness and support campaigns, encouraging a public debate:

presenting the outcome of the questionnaires regarding the "on ground
needs of the population" in the media and other relevant circles. Note: this
has proven to be a critical step as the outcomes of these questionnaires
were very different than what was expected by the local authorities.

6. Creation of a database, voluntary corps and an administrative structure.

7. Creation of a private sector support network.

8. Implementation of the Project.

Costs:

The costs are minimal:

Rua Pinheiro Chagas, 8 - R/C | 1050-177 Lisboa

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1. *Human Resources: From our experience in Portugal, 85% of human
resources were voluntary, the reminder were already employed staff of the
Municipality and other authorities which dedicated part of their time to this
purpose.
In addition, otherwise "no productive work force" especially in the form of
the elderly, was incorporated into this process with particularly positive
feedback and results.

*One or two full time coordinators are necessary, depending on the scope of work at a given time. (in
EMET, these coordinators were allocated an office in the municipality)

2. Materials: Private Sector contributions in the form of Tax-Return.

3. Venues: use of public spaces (Schools, Public halls, Parks etc.)- No

Costs.

4. Publicity: done through media, school networks, postal service etc.-No

costs.
In July 2006 one of our volunteers, Helena Margarida Saldanha, presented
the project to the "Forum Europa" in Brussels. Following her presentation it
was agreed to consider this as an EU Project to be presented when Portugal
assumes the presidency of the EU Community this May. The "Forum
Europa" suggested to adopt this Project on the government level with all
the required legal and financial issues facilitated as an official methodology
in the coming "Forum Europa" general meeting May 9, creating lobbies
and proposals for changes of the fiscal laws.

Lisbon, 22-Fev-2007

Naomi Calvão

Rua Pinheiro Chagas, 8 - R/C | 1050-177 Lisboa

Tel.: 213 150 924 | Telem.: 919 928 601 | veigacalvaoruth@yahoo.com
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