ACCA president Wanda Crawford shares the importance of supporting the needs of children in foster care, helping children “go to a normal family environment”
– July 11, 2024 | Photos BH Fotografia
The Ombria Resort golf course in Loulé hosted the ‘ACCA Charity Ombria Algarve Golf Tournament’ this June, raising €10,000 for a new child foster care programme run by the António Aleixo Foundation.
“We had such a magical day at Ombria Golf Course,” shared Wanda Crawford, ACCA President.
“It was an excellent opportunity for so many who have never played the course to have the pleasure of doing so while supporting such a worthy cause. Players came from Vale do Lobo, Laranjal, Pinheiros Altos and Vila Sol, to name a few,” Wanda stated, adding that due to its success, the tournament will become an annual event.
The tournament began at 9am with a stableford shotgun start, followed by a meal, prizes, and an auction, finishing with the winner, Simon Ferguson, and with over €10,000 raised.
“Portugal still has many orphanages. This new foster programme will help children go to a normal family environment for six months, which can be extended. Hopefully, the situation in their homes can be rectified so that the children can ideally return home,” Wanda explained.
The reason foster care is “so important” in Portugal is because 6,347 children are currently living in institutions, she said. “Only 3.6% of those under (the age of) six will find a family to adopt them.”
“Here in the Algarve, there are 308 children in the foster care programme: of these, only one child was taken in by a family. Furthermore, 45 of them are under six years old,” Wanda said, explaining that the first three years of a child’s life are “essential for biopsychosocial development. Every day spent in foster care is a day of development which lasts forever,” she adds.
The ACCA president says it always does her heart good to see the community come together to support children. “If we make this fundamental difference in the lives of young children, we will have served humanity in a profound way.”
Visit António Aleixo Foundation’s website for more information.
Article originally published on Portugal Resident.
You might also like: