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PROJECT
25
ALCOUTIM
Algarve - Portugal
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THEME
Development of the
cultural and natural heritage of the Alcoutim region.
HOSTING
ORGANISATION
ALCANCE, a rural development association (previously
a hosting organisation in 1999-2000, SVE hosting project
since 1997).
DESCRIPTION
OF THE HOSTING ORGANISATION
ALCANCE promotes the rehabilitation of regional
heritage with a view to assisting the development of
the economy and of tourism in Alcoutim, a rural area
with a rapidly dwindling population. With the active
participation of the local inhabitants, both youth and
adults, and in frequent partnership with trans-national
projects involving young people, the association restores,
develops and promotes various aspects of the regional
identity (languages, anthropology, architecture, popular
traditions).
DESCRIPTION
OF PROJECT
With 500 inhabitants,
Alcoutim is located in the far north-eastern corner
of the Algarve, across the Guadiana River from Spain.
The region is historically significant because the Rio
Guadiana was, for centuries, a main access route for
many of the Mediterranean people groups. The area also
retains a lot of wilderness sites of natural interest.
After an in-depth introduction to the territory with
the assistance of local partners, the volounteers would
carry out a field survey of natural and cultural heritage:
typical flora and fauna (diversity, rare species, important
traditional elements, etc.), regional heritage of historical,
cultural or ethnographic importance (cultural and territorial
identity, landscape), surveys of the local population
in terms of traditional occupations, customs, celebrations,
etc. (with the assistance of the hosting organisation).
They would then present their work to the local population
during an exhibition of photos, written text and drawings,
and produce a report with proposals for developing the
tourism sector, in a context of sustainable development.
NUMBER
OF VOLUNTEERS
2 (Boyana VASILEVA, Maud LANGLOIS)
PROJECT
DURATION
6 months (February - August 2002)
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