The "Tale of the two cities" projects was financed by European Commision funds in frame of Erasmus+ Programme. The project aims at deploying youth to participate in multiple activities for the purpose of increasing
awareness and appreciation of cultural and environmental heritage of Madeira Island. EVS participants engage in
various endeavours for strengthening integration of local community and promote healthy lifestyles.
2. Table of contents
1. Introduc on
a.General Overview
b.About organizers
c. Objec ves of the project
2. Ac vi es: Can-Art and other undertakings
a.a.Art and ecological awareness
b. Conducted ac vi es
c. Sta s cs- the reach of the project
3. Case Study
Dariusz Sirko
3. Introduction
General Overview
Tale of the two cities is one of many projects organized under the Erasmus+ EVS program.The European Voluntary Service
is an exclusive European Union initiative that helps young-adults travel abroad to take part in volunteering projects to obtain
valuable experience for either future professional career or to broaden knowledge for better understanding of specific global issues.
All EVS projAll EVS projects touch different sectors and include a wide range of activities,such as cultural reciprocity,environmental protection,
social care and many others.
Along as every entrant of the project fulfils bestowed upon him/ her duties,they also excel in their personal development that later
on be officially recognize by obtainment of the Youthpass Certificate.
Youthpass Certificate is an officially approved document that recognizes learning outcomes from youth work activities such as
EVS,Mobility of Youth Workers,Structured Dialogue meetings and other programs instituted by the European Commission to
promote non-formal learning.
EVSEVS Programs last from minimum 2 weeks to up to 12 moths.
All necessary costs related to the volunteering project,such as accommodation,travel and local transport,-are covered by the
organizing party.
Additionally,participants are provided with insurance during their time abroad and may receive an allowance of modest amount of
money for basic needs.
All EVS programs are opened for anyone between the ages of 17 and 30.
To apply you can either directly contact the sending organization or European Youth Portal.
More inMore information at: www.ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus
4. About organizers
Teatro Metaphora,non-profit association,situated in the town of Câmara de Lobos in Madeira island,Portugal; organizes
projects to promote sustainable lifestyles and foster ecological awareness.The organization is well-known for
engagement in artistic endeavours that promote recycling and upcycling of used packaging and other waste material.
Objectives of the project
TTale of the two cities aims at deploying youth to participate in multiple activities for the purpose of increasing
awareness and appreciation of cultural and environmental heritage of Madeira Island.EVS participants engage in
various endeavours for strengthening integration of local community and promote healthy lifestyles.Each participant
has a chance to obtain valuable knowledge in how to skilfully manage time,learn in-depth about local culture and
language.In addition,all participants are expected to perform their own personal projects related to the core activity.
Biblioteca Viva : Human Library, an event iniciated by Kate Popovska,EVS participant; aimed at sharing experiances and
integrating local community
Lidia Canha
Coordinator of the project
José António Barros
President of the organziation
5. Activities: Can-Art and other undertakings
Art and ecological awareness
Teatro Metaphora chooses different art forms as means to attract and communicate with local and foreign viewers on important
issues such as ecological awareness.Association as its indicated in its official name executes theatrical performances but stage
productions aren’t the main concern of the organization.Teatro Metaphora carries out divers original pursuits such as sculpturing,
modelling untypical creative installations as well as conducting artistic extemporizations.
CConducted activities
LATAS Project
EVS participants along with association supporters had a chance to create unique street decorations that are being exhibited
throughout summer 2017 in Câmara de Lobos. The LATAS exhibition is destined to draw people’s attention to the significantly
unfavourable impact of manufacturing aluminium cans.In addition to this,LATAS intend to get people aware of health issues linked
with consuming fizzy drinks.
LATAS Project,the exhibition of door decorations and street installations exclusively made from over twenty thousand used cans
could be seen by visitors thought the summer 2017 in Câmara de Lobos.
6. Animate for ACTION
Teatro Metaphora jointly with Casa do Povo,another non-profit Madeiran organization; came out on the streets of Câmara de Lobos
to campaign against employment of aluminium cans as main preserving material for popular beverages.Activities took into
employment various communication tools as well as artistic modes.Participants had a chance to interact with local community and
pass knowledge about environmental impact of aforementioned.
Forest-Pic Photography Contest
The first such initiative organiThe first such initiative organized in Madeira Island.
Teatro Metaphora Association in collaboration with Eco-Carmo Environmental Club initiated a very special opportunity for young
people to exhibit their knowledge on invasive species.Photography Contest aims at fostering awareness of unfavourable impact of
invasive species on Madeiran indigenous greenery.
Animate for ACTION,volunteers and supporters of the organization go out on the streets to promote ecological awareness
7. Hospital dos Pequeninos-Hospital for the little ones
TTeatro Metaphora was a contributor to the unusual event dedicated for children and their parents.The driving force behind the
Hospital dos Pequeninos project was Jaime Miguel Abreu,a medical student,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto.This
enthusiastic young adult managed to call together local authorities,NGOs and other contributors from private sector to engage and
make the event happen.From 17th till 21st of July 2017 this famous Museu de Imprensa Madeira in Camara De Lobos turned into
magic hospital where children could learn how to prevent diseases,what are the fundamental conditions to maintain good health
and peaceful frame of mind.
Hospital dos Pequeninos,attractions during the event were multiple but what kept kids so absorbed in this educational play was
the exercise to treat and dress an imaginary wound of their favourite soft toy.
8. SEED-Sectors United for foresting employability
SEED Project was aimed at development of competences for young adults in virtual environment.The EU Partners from 6 different
member states,each from distinct regional sector formed an ally force and produced an online platform with courses designed at
teaching how to properly work remotely,that’s away from the office.
During the closingDuring the closing conference of the project around 50 participants from Portugal and other European countries learned essential
skills of online communication,time management and teambuilding: for example,how to appear likeable through a skype call; how
to structure your day if you don’t have any supervision; how to behave if a new team starts gossiping about the boss who you’ve
never seen in person etc.
SEED-Sectors United for foresting employability,an online course for young people was presented in Centro de Juventude do
Funchal on Friday,18 August.2017
9. Biblioteca Viva : Human Library
Initiative organized by a Kate Popovska,EVS participant.Human Library was the very first event of such kind organized in Câmara de
Lobos,and most probably in the whole island.The gathering targeted local people to exchange ideas and experience,since each
individual is like an open book that has stories to tell.The event turned out to be a great success with over 20 participants taking
part in the event.Teatro Metaphora may in future continue the project since it fulfilled its aimed objectives.
Biblioteca Viva: Human Library, participants of the happening could learn from one another on such given topics of the events,as
leaving aboard,traveling and other.The initiative turned out to be very successful and might be repeated in the future
10. Other projects
Organization initiates other projects such as craft workshops,language club and many other activities destined for integration of
local community,improving personal abilities and developing talents,especially individuals from unprivileged backgrounds.
Statistics-the reach of the project
The numberThe number of visitors that visit Madeira increases from year to year.It is estimated that nearly one million tourists visited the island
last year.Since Câmara de Lobos is one of the major attractions on the island,we assume that at least half of visiting Madeira
tourists got acquainted with LATAS or other exhibition initiated by the association.
In additionIn addition,the town has 31,476 inhabitants.More than 50% of local community knows Teatro Metaphora thanks to its wide range
of endeavours directed towards municipal commonwealth.Furthermore,projects such as LATAS are keenly promoted in local and
international media.For instance,Madeira island news blog has nearly 3000 page views a day.The minute-long video promoting the
LATAS project in social media reached over 100 thousand views.
Câmara de Lobos, inspired the late Sir Winston Churchill to paint its lovely surroundings.This fishermen town still attracts great
number of tourists who thanks to Teatro Metaphora can exhibition could learn about the increasingly important impact of using
cans on environment
11. Case study
If someone had told me few months ago that I would participate in the EVS project in Madeira Islands,I wouldn’t believe it. At last,
this is what happened for real!
I came to Funchal,a capital city of Portugal’s Madeira archipelago,for the very first time on the 3rd of June 2017.I have been picked
up from the Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport,by José Antonio,the President of Teatro Metaphora organization.
SinSince I read all the objectives of the program I exactly knew what to expect from the project.But as things usually work a bit
different from what is written on paper,to my surprise,the whole experience turned out to be a way better then as it’s been
described in the folder.
I had a chanI had a chance to take part in multiple initiatives that took place during my EVS circle.The project that I value most were Hospital for
the little ones,Animate for ACTION and conducting Polish language and Culture classes.These initiatives were very close to my ideal
image of how we,as an organization,can add up to bettering lives and expending horizons of local community.I believe conducted
happenings had a great impact on locals,especially on local youth.
NNext to organizational responsibilities and duties I had a great opportunity in my spare time to learn about,not only Madeira but
also,whole Portugal.Spending sharply five months in this increasable place gave me a fabulous chance to visit places that I could
only dream of sightseeing.I eagerly embraced Portuguese way of life and with a blazing sparkle in my eyes I observed previously
unknown to me beautiful habits and traditional events of Portuguese people.I became a devoted fado listener,and Portuguese
cuisine for sure changed my dietary routine.Portuguese traditional dishes are simple but at the same time very flavourful.I had to
love them,there was no other option for me!
When itWhen it comes to a question whether I obtained new and upgraded already possessed competences I for sure must admit that I,
indeed,did.The project allowed me to expend my wings in PR and content management related skills.I learned how to organize my
time and divide it between scheduled tasks.Next to this thanks to attending piano classes I excelled my song writing skills,
something that I aimed at as becoming a part of artistic organization.Because Teatro Metaphora,although in recent years more
focused on ecological awareness,at heart its truly a theatrical and performing arts organization.
To anyone who hesitates whether to take part in EVS Erasmus Plus project...GO FOR IT!
It’ll be a greatIt’ll be a great experience that you’ll treasure for a very long time.
Dariusz Sirko
EVS Erasmus Plus Participant