My last reading :)

Following one of the last TET's suggestions, I'll talk about the book I bought and read today! It's called the "Library Lion".

It might sound a little bit weird, but today I actually bought a children's book... for me! I swear I'm not going insane! I was in a book store, glimpsing books on the shelves, when I came across a wonderfully illustrated book. I read the first three pages and I couldn't stop smiling. So, I bought the book and continued reading it at home. Besides the lovely illustrations, the story is so sweet, so delicate...

The basic story is a lion that one day walks through the door of an old style library much to the dislike of the circulation library assistant and the shock of a lot of the patrons. The assistant wants the lion gone but the head librarian tells him everyone is welcome in a library as long as they don't break the rules. The lion enjoys story time, and disappointed upon it ending gives a loud roar. This immediately draws the wrath of Miss Merriweather, the head librarian, and the lion learns if it roars again in the library it will not be welcome and not able to enjoy future story time sessions. Everyone comes to love the now well behaved and helpful lion except the jealous Mr McBee. One day while not following proper workplace health and safety practices Miss Merriweather has an accident. The lion knows it must get help but also that it is forbidden from roaring. What happens next are important lessons for children and adults alike but rest assured everything turns out all right in the end.

This is a magical and amazing book. Believe me! I recommend it to every child and... well... every adult too! ;) I don't know if there is a portuguese translation of the book or if it's being sold in Portugal, but if not, try to buy it online. I'm sure you won't regret such deal!

6th TET: Social Intervention, Solidarity

It was the Christmas TET!
The discussiona theme was about Social Intervention and Solidarity, that's why we talked about some associations, like the ones below:

APAHE: Associação Portuguesa de Ataxias Hereditárias

http://www.apahe.pt/ http://artigosataxiashereditarias.blogspot.com

What is ataxia?

Ataxia, from the Greek “ataxis” means disordered; it is a symptom and not a specific disease or diagnosis. Ataxia means the loss of coordination of voluntary muscle movements. Its name covers a variety of neurological disorders and, for this reason, it can be considered to be one of the many cases included in the clinical analysis of the nervous system. To a large extent, this group of diseases of neurological disorder is known as degenerative ataxia as the symptoms worsen over time. Ataxia can affect the fingers, hands, legs, body, speech, and eye movements.

APAHE is presently looking for its first members as well as funding in order to grow. To be a member you have to pay 20 euros per year as a membership fee. You also need to fill in a form [attached] and send it to the following e-mail adress: brame@oninet.pt (temporary adress) or to APAHE – Associação Portuguesa de Ataxias Hereditárias, Rua da Mina nº 19, Palmeira – 4700-714 Braga.

In case you are interested in making a donation trough banc transfer the BIN is 0033 0000 45329076888 05 for Millennium bcp (tax deductible in IRS). Alternatively, you can donate 0.5% from your tax return. To do so, fill in the attached H form, subsection 901 of section 9.

APAHE has been purposefully registered in order to receive your donation. This contribution will in no way increase the amount you usually pay on income tax.

In Familia http://www.infamilia.org/

In Familia is a non-profit-making association that intervenes in three different areas, in the national and Portuguese-speaking contexts and internationally: life, family and social responsibility. It’s not linked with any religious profession or political parties.

Its main activities are: discussions to promote reflection about the above mentioned themes; training; help and monitoring for pregnant women; Activities to promote social integration and to prevent exclusion and poverty; social intervention through the media and other means; the spreading of information; etc.

In its essence, In Familia wishes to contribute to developing skills in young people for them to take responsible and conscious actions and become committed, for example in a family, and prepared for life.

To be a member you have to pay 24 euros per year (2 euros per month) as a membership fee. There is a discount for students of 50%.

Banco Local de Voluntariado do Concelho de Braga

http://www.cm-braga.pt/docs/CMB/Publicacoes/PanfletoBLV.pdf

If you are interested, go to Rua Frei Caetano Brandão, 162, Braga.

First you’ll have an interview, and then you’ll be trained.

If you already know the institution where you want to do volunteer work, you should go directly to the institution and proceed with formalities there.