A PROJECT entitled ‘Praia Saudável’ (healthy beach), sponsored by the Fundação Vodafone Portugal, is being launched at 64 bathing beaches in Portugal this summer.
The campaign, which represents an investment of 1.5 million euros, seeks to improve on existing life-saving equipment and communication techniques (it will donate walkie-talkies for lifeguards and aquabikes, among other items), provide better access for the disabled and the elderly (Vodafone is donating special chairs that can be used on land and in water, and making special pathways and ramps), and aims to ensure that beaches are kept cleaner by providing ashtray dispensers and ashtrays.
The telecommunications company is also contributing 100,000 euros to improving security at the country’s beaches by making a donation to thePrograma Nacional de Vigilância das Zonas Balneares, the national security programme for bathing areas.
Information panels are also being placed to raise awareness among bathers regarding issues such as security, access and the quality of beaches. These will also be available in Braille for the blind.
The overall campaign will span a total of 124 bathing zones throughout Portugal over a three-year period.
The beaches in the Faro district that are included in the iniative this summer are:Praia do Alvor, Praia da Rocha, Praia dos Três Irmãos (Portimão); Praia de Odeceixe, Monte Clérigo (Aljezur); Praia de Santa Eulália, Praia da Falésia, Praia da Rocha Baixinha Leste, Praia da Rocha Baixinha Oeste (Albufeira); Meia Praia (Lagos); Praia de Vilamoura (Loulé); Praia da Ilha de Tavira, Praia do Barril (Tavira); Praia do Salema (Vila do Bispo) and Praia de Monte Gordo (Vila Real de Santo António).
The project is the result of an agreement made between the Fundação Vodafone Portugal, Direcção Geral da Autoridade Marítima (maritime authorities), Instituto da Água (water institute), Instituto de Conservação da Natureza (institute for the conservation of nature) and Associação Bandeira Azul da Europa (the blue flag assocation of Europe), the association which regulates beaches for quality conditions.
