Meeting of the Local Stakeholders in Fundão, Portugal #2
On 15 November 2024, the Municipality of Fundão hosted the second Local Action Group meeting of the Involvim project (Informal and Voluntary Services for Work-Based Immigrants) at the historic Casino Fundanense.
The meeting brought together local stakeholders to co-create strategies supporting the social inclusion of migrant workers, homemakers, and retirees, especially those in vulnerable situations. Discussions focused on identifying local challenges and strengthening informal, community-based support networks for integration.
Key outcomes included agreement on the structure and goals of voluntary services targeting migrant communities, and final validation of the Exchange of Experience Agenda to be held in Fundão on 20–21 May 2025, with visits planned to the Professional School, AIMA Integration Office, and local businesses.
The meeting also aligned with the Weldi project (Welcome and Empowerment for Local Dignified Integration), including the development of the upcoming podcast series “Conversas de Propósito,” set to launch in December 2025.
This session reinforced Fundão’s broader strategy to foster inclusive, community-led approaches to migrant integration, reflecting the values of the Interreg Europe programme and the role of smaller cities as spaces for social innovation.
It was coordinated by Michaela Gil, Involvim Project Coordinator and Fundão’s senior European project officer, with support from Carolina Galvão, Filipa Batista, Alexandra Bento (Local Group Coordinator), and local institutional partners.