Stories of local residents
Jorge Madeira, a cattle breeder, born and raised in Alcoutim, represents the soul of the community. As far as he is concerned, farming is a way of life, but the addition of solar panels to the landscape has brought a new dimension to what Alcoutim can achieve.
José Ribeiros, head of the Alcoutim Volunteer Fire Department, is a guardian of safety in the village. However, the decline in the number of students at the local school in recent decades, from 400 to around 100, is a sign of the challenge of depopulation in the area.
Marisa Aires and Rui Silva, owners of the Pôr do Sol restaurant, are entrepreneurs with a firm belief in what they do and are proud to be able to contribute to local development.
Roderick do Carmo, a local student born and raised in Alcoutim, says he knows everyone and is now witnessing the revitalisation of his community.
Luísa Tavares and João Freire, owners of the rural guesthouse Recanto d’Aldeia, chose to swap the hustle and bustle of the town of Cascais for the peace and quiet of the Algarve. Their business helps attract visitors to the region.
Gonçalo Baltazar, a young professional in the photovoltaic sector, acknowledges the fact that Alcoutim has always found it difficult to hold on to its population, young people in particular. However, the Alcoutim solar power plant, the result of Galp's partnership with the town council, has brought new energy to the town.
Otília Gonçalves symbolises the deep-rooted connection she has had with her homeland throughout her life. She is an active participant in workshops promoted by Odiana. The director of the Association for the Development of the Lower Guadiana Region, Catarina Cavaco, who was born and raised there too, senses the difference the workshops and activities carried out together with this target audience are making. “I feel there has been an improvement in the population´s quality of life”, she says, while declaring that Galp has not only brought clean energy and energy efficiency to the town but is also helping to strike a balance between tradition and modernity, “which is very good for our region”.
Margarida Sousa, an intern at the aforementioned association, is equally happy, as she has found opportunities for personal and professional growth in this project underway in Alcoutim: “I can demonstrate and develop what I have to offer here, which is great”, she comments.
These stories can be heard in the following documentary.
