AKF Portugal invests in inclusion and innovation

In partnership with Sintra City Council and co-funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), the Aga Khan Foundation Portugal is implementing integrated projects through three Local Integrated Operations (OIL) in the parishes of Algueirão-Mem Martins, Queluz-Belas, and Agualva Mira-Sintra.

Launched in January 2023 and running through December 2025, the projects are strategically aligned with the objectives of the Integrated Operations in Disadvantaged Communities framework. With a total investment of 1.099.946,89€, the interventions seek to equip youth with advanced digital skills and soft skills, empower senior citizens through their voices and representation and quality of service delivery, strengthen civil society and community participation as well as sharing knowledge, enhance family support systems, foster cultural participation of youth and promote environmental awareness.

The Bytes4Future program (Local Integrated Operations of Algueirão Mem Martins, Queluz-Belas and Agualva Mira-Sintra) is a structured program aimed to equip young people (aged 18–29) with digital skills and softskills, fostering social inclusion and employability. It combines english, multimedia and softskills with intensive digital upskilling and reskilling coding program (Junior FullStack Developer). The initiative is built on collaboration with private-sector partners, and the Alumni Network facilitates peer-to-peer mentoring and supports the long-term sustainability of the model.

The +Senior Participation project (Local Integrated Operations of Algueirão Mem Martins, Queluz-Belas, and Agualva Mira-Sintra) envisions seniors as active agents of change within their communities. Through local forums, seniors are empowered to reflect on various relevant dimensions of ageing, aligning with the World Health Organization’s “Age-Friendly Cities” framework. Working with local organizations, seniors and professionals are also empowered to redesign daycare center services to be more senior-centered and open to the community. The project aims to foster inclusion and innovation in ageing.

The Observatory for the Strengthening of Civil Society (Local Integrated Operations of Algueirão Mem Martins, Queluz-Belas and Agualva Mira-Sintra) is designed to enhance the organizational capacity of civil society organizations and foster community civic engagement, promote collaboration between civil society organizations services and citizens, facilitate the implementation and dissemination of organizational self-assessment tools, and provide an online platform with relevant information. This is achieved through training, workshops, debates and ongoing technical support. Resources and tools will be made available online.

The Local Platform for Integrated Family Support (Local Integrated Operations of Algueirão Mem Martins and Queluz-Belas) is aimed to promote a coordinated and culturally responsive ecosystem of family and parental support, with a strong emphasis on child-centered development, through comprehensive mapping of needs, family support activities, capacity-building of professionals and collaborative local and support networks.

The Na Zona – Art and Territory (Local Integrated Operations of Algueirão Mem Martins and Queluz-Belas) is aimed to value the endogenous resources of the territory and promote inclusion through artistic practices. By facilitating artistic residencies, workshops, community of practices and debates it functions as a platform for artistic experimentation and co-creation and inclusive participation, particularly among young people from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds.

The Environmental Education and Valorization of the Commons (Local Integrated Operations of Algueirão Mem Martins and Queluz-Belas) is focused on raising awareness and promoting environmentally sustainable behaviors, namely through workshops and community-based environmental education initiatives related to circular economy practices, recycling, repair spaces and exchange markets, climate resilience, microforests, among others.

By combining organizational strengthening, social innovation, environmental and sustainable awareness, cultural participation, active ageing, and digital transformation, the Aga Khan Foundation Portugal reinforces its commitment to inclusive and sustainable development in Sintra municipality. These projects embody a holistic territorial approach, ensuring that interventions are not only responsive to immediate needs but also contribute to long-term resilience, social cohesion, and community empowerment.