Portimão Mobilises in April for the Protection of Children and Youth
April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Portimão is once again joining the initiative. Throughout the month, the local Child and Youth Protection Commission (CPCJ) will promote a series of actions aimed at raising awareness and mobilising the community around the importance of protecting children and young people.
Under the national campaign slogan, “I will become what you give me… let it be love,” Portimão reinforces its commitment with the local message, “Together we protect children and youth,” calling for community engagement and collective responsibility.
During April, the Blue Ribbon takes centre stage as the symbol of this cause, representing a shared commitment to preventing child abuse. It will serve as the theme for several planned initiatives, encouraging families to practice positive parenting based on care, respect, and the absence of verbal, physical, and psychological violence.
Over the course of the month, CPCJ Portimão will organise a range of community-focused activities involving schools, families, neighbourhood community centres, and senior centres, fostering strong participation and awareness around this issue.
As in previous years, school groups across the municipality have been challenged to develop artistic activities inspired by the history of the Blue Ribbon, which will be displayed in public spaces and schools, engaging students, teachers, and families alike.
“Calendar of Affection”
In parallel, the “Calendar of Affection” initiative will be promoted, encouraging small daily actions between parents and children throughout the month, aimed at strengthening family bonds and fostering positive relationships. This initiative will also be supported through the Municipality’s social media channels to broaden its reach within the community.
As part of awareness and reflection efforts, a film cycle will also be held at Portimão cinemas, aimed at 9th- and 10th-grade students, in partnership with the Technical Advisory Service to the Courts (SATT) of the Faro District Social Security Centre.
Among the highlights is the formation of a human Blue Ribbon, scheduled for April 18 at 10:00 a.m. at Portimão Marina. Open to the public, the initiative is organised in partnership with Portimão Marina and EPIC Fitness Portimão and will include sports activities such as Zumba and Body Attack classes.
The programme also features the futsal match “Parents and Children Against Child Abuse,” taking place on April 25 at 10:00 a.m. at the Pedra Mourinha Sports and Recreation Club, reinforcing the importance of family involvement and sport as a space for sharing and connection.
The campaign’s community dimension also extends to local commerce, with CPCJ inviting shopkeepers to participate by decorating their shop windows with blue ribbons—the symbolic colour of the campaign—helping to raise visibility for the cause.
Additional actions include the distribution of blue ribbons within the community, the installation of a campaign banner at CPCJ facilities, and the traditional illumination of municipal buildings in blue tones, namely the Town Hall and CPCJ Portimão premises, symbolically reinforcing the message.
With this initiative, Portimão reaffirms its position as a caring, engaged, and vigilant community committed to protecting its children and young people, highlighting the importance of joint and continuous action in promoting their well-being.
