FOLLOWING THE success of its new crèche, O Relógio, Faro’s Instituto D. Francisco Gomes, commonly known as Casa dos Rapazes, has laid the first stone for the construction of a new pre-school centre, which will be given the same name (O Relógio).
A presentation was recently held for the press with the aim of raising awareness among companies and other entities of the importance of the pre-school project, not only for the local community but also for the fulfillment of the autonomous management strategy being established by the institute.
The project is counting on the support of Segurança Social (Social Security) and the Direcção Regional de Educação do Algarve (regional education authority of the Algarve), and it was the regional director for education, Libório Correia, who laid the first stone to symbolise the start of the construction. Correia took the opportunity to point out that, initiatives such as these highlight the important role of certain institutions within the community and praised the work done by Casa dos Rapazes.
With a capacity for 75 children, aged between three and five-years-old, the future nursery school will comprise three classrooms, a multipurpose room and dining hall.
As explained by António Barão of Casa dos Rapazes, the new establishment will be of a high quality, like the new crèche inaugurated in September 2005, and will hopefully help respond to the high demand among parents in the area for pre-school education. “Many parents were phoning our crèche thinking that it accepted children over three. The pre-school centre was already an ambition but now it will definitely be going ahead. We decided to link it to the crèche and give it the same name,” he said.
With an estimated cost of around 40,000 euros, it is essential to seek patrons to contribute to this project. Only by establishing relationships with public and private entities can the new unit deliver the necessary conditions, not only with regard to the building itself, but also for the purchase of quality teaching materials.
Instituto D. Francisco Gomes also operates a home for orphaned and unprivileged boys. For further information, call 918 836 503.
