The 16th edition of the award organized by the Manuel António da Mota Foundation honored nine national institutions today, with second place awarded to Cáritas of Terceira Island and third place to MADI – Movement to Support the Intellectually Disabled of Vila do Conde.
Honorable mentions were given to ACAPO – Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted of Portugal, Brigada do Mar – União, CAID – Cooperative for the Support of the Integration of the Disabled, CASA – Centre for Homeless Support, Cultural and Educational Assistance Centre of Fundão, Parish and Social Centre of Lanheses, and Rui Osório de Castro Foundation.
Among the ten finalist entries, the winner received a monetary prize of 50,000 euros, while the second and third place received prizes of 25,000 euros and 10,000 euros, respectively. Each of the seven honorable mentions received 5,000 euros.
Based in Miranda do Douro, in the district of Bragança, Rural Move – Association for the Promotion of Investment in Low-Density Territories, was established in 2020. Its goal is to create, develop, and promote activities and initiatives that encourage investment and repopulation in low-density areas.
Targeting people interested in living, working, or investing in rural areas – known as “new rurals” or “Rural Movers” – with a focus on young people, remote workers, entrepreneurs, migrants, and the diaspora, the Rural Move – Platform for New Rurals project aims to stimulate low-density territories by providing direct support for settling, integrating into local communities, and enhancing territorial cohesion.
Data from this association indicate that Portugal has faced numerous structural challenges in its low-density territories, covering about 80% of the country’s area but housing only 20% of its population.
This phenomenon “has profound consequences in terms of human desertification, marked aging, loss of services, economic decline, and territorial exclusion.”
The initiative is inspired by the ‘MOVE IN’ measure proposed by the Interior Valorization Plan (2018) and aims to address a gap: the lack of a structured, collaborative, and humane platform to facilitate moving inland.
This 16th edition of the award, under the theme “Always Solidary,” “reinforces our commitment to a fairer, cohesive, and solidary country, distinguishing institutions notable in the fight against poverty and social exclusion, welcoming and integrating migrants and refugees, valuing the interior and territorial cohesion, health, education, employment, family support, social innovation and entrepreneurship, inclusion and digital and technological transition, and climate transition,” stated Rui Pedroto, president of the executive committee of the Manuel António da Mota Foundation.
The Manuel António da Mota Award was created in 2010 to annually recognize organizations excelling in various areas of the foundation’s activities.
The Manuel António da Mota Foundation, declared of public utility in 2014, supports initiatives in the fields of social development and solidarity, housing, health, education, training and culture, and environment, both in Portugal and abroad.
The award ceremony took place this afternoon at the Alfândega Congress Centre in Porto.
