In the town of Santarém, Portugal, children and young people, particularly from Roma and immigrant communities, face the risk of social exclusion.

The Escolhas Programme, meaning Choices, aims to tackle this issue by providing better access to quality educational, employment and social services for young people aged 6-25.

Since its inception in 2001, the national programme – which is co-funded by the ESF+ – has reached thousands of young people, helping them engage in their local communities and giving them the skills and opportunities to pursuit their education and job stability.

Main priorities

In Santarém, school absenteeism is an important issue. For young adults, unemployment, uncertain work contracts, or violence can also be problems. The programme focuses on two main areas: education, training and employment, and community building and citizenship.

The programme’s projects can take many shapes, depending on the local community needs and approach, but its first goal is to enhance educational success and develop personal, social, and digital skills needed for stable employment. It aims to ensure that all children and young people, regardless of their background, have equal opportunities to secure employment and feel at home in their community.

The second goal is to encourage community engagement and participation. This includes promoting healthy lifestyle habits and involving young people in culture, arts, and sports to foster a well-rounded and healthy life.

No colour, no race, no religion

One of the projects in Santarém was developed by Lar Evangélico Nova Esperança, a local NGO. Sónia Lobato, the institution’s president, explains how the programme has evolved to successfully welcome and integrate 50 children from different cultural backgrounds. For this, they use three essential hooks: ‘sports, where there’s no colour, no race, and no religion; the arts, using culture, theatre, and music; and finally, study support and teaching the Portuguese language.’

Recognising the critical role of parents, the programme works closely with parents and carers to address the challenges faced by children and young people. It also holds important meetings with guardians, teachers, and the National Commission for the Promotion of Children’s and Youth Rights and Protection.

The Escolhas Programme will reach over 17 000 participants across Portugal, including around 250 people in Santarém every year, making a significant difference in preventing social exclusion among the local youth.