Children’s home appeal

A group of 20 Rotarians, family and friends were invited to lunch at the Bom Samaritano children’s home in Alvor on February 4.

Home director Margarida Castanhito told the Algarve Resident that the invitation was a thank you to the Almancil International Rotary Club (AIRC) for its generous donations and support over the past two years.

The Bom Samaritano home aims to provide a stable, loving environment the children feel is their real home. There are currently 35 children, boys and girls, aged from two to 18, all needing regular psychological care and counselling.

Margarida Castanhito said: “The children we home come from a risk environment and many have behavioural problems.

“They are placed here by the court or the commission for the protection of children and minors at risk, yet the government only subsidises the home by 50 per cent.”

The home desperately needs funds to buy school stationery and books, each costing around 22 euros, personal hygiene products and “any other items you and I use at home”, she said.

Brian O’Neil made a child’s football practice more fun by being the goalkeeper.

The visitors were shown around the home and were then joined at lunch by some of the children on school break and staff. 

“It was a truly enjoyable family occasion,” said David Trubshaw from the AIRC.

Before lunch, the home director thanked past AIRC president Paul Lantau who made sure Father Christmas came, for the first time ever, to the children’s Christmas Concert last December. 

“Apparently, he has already been booked for the next five years,” David said.

If you would like to know more about the Bom Samaritano children’s home in Alvor and how you can help, please telephone 282 459 201 or email [email protected].