Trainers – IMAMA
Partnerships in Europe: during July, ESMABAMA ’s new General Director, Edson Balata, held strategic meetings with partners, donors, and friends of the Association in Portugal (Caritas Portugal, SOPRO and Missionary Centre of the Archdiocese of Braga) and in Austria (Caritas Austria,LFTW, horizont3000, MISSIO and 2 businessman). These visits were essential to strengthen relationships, align priorities of ongoing projects, and explore new cooperation opportunities.
Partnerships in Europe – Portugal
Edson with SOPRO team
In Lisbon, the meeting with Caritas Portugal paved the way for the possibility of Partnerships. The organisation also showed concern for the current situation of ESMABAMA’s health centres and committed to mobilising support from other entities to help ESMABAMA.
With SOPRO ONG, the partnership for the “Soprinhos” project was strengthened. This initiative supports pre-school children to attend early education across ESMABAMA’s 4 missions, where there are no other pre-schools close by. Annual funding has been increased, for further supporting preschool’s activities. SOPRO will also send materials to strengthen the nurseries and libraries in the mission schools, through the shipping of the company Barceltecnica. Due to large quantities, the process is gradual and time-consuming.
Edson also held a virtual meeting with the Missionary Centre of the Archdiocese of Braga, which expressed interest in supporting ESMABAMA through volunteer placements. In the meeting was also mention of the possibility of implementing a for secondary school students, focusing on girls’ education. ESMABAMA is open to receiving volunteers from various fields to contribute their knowledge and experience to community development.
Partnerships in Europe – Austria
Edson with h3000 team
In the meeting with Caritas Austria was discussed the possibility of drafting and implementing an new project from 2026. With horizont3000, the discussion focused on possibilities for advisory work and project partnerships.
The meeting with MISSIO the discussion was about possibility of opportunities for projects focused on women’s empowerment, teacher and youth training, and strengthening the technical capacities of ESMABAMA staff. The partnerships in Europe extended to meetings with two businessman: one from Wiener Wohnen (housing rental) and another from Raiffeisenbank (finance). They expressed interest to know ESMABAMA, and discussed the possibilities for partnerships in education and health.
Edson Balata (ESMABAMA) and Harald (Caritas Austria)
We would like remind that these possibities of partnerships in Europe reaffirm ESMABAMA’s commitment to sustainable rural development, supporting communities through strong partnerships and actions aligned with their needs. Beyond strengthening relationships, they also bring renewed hope to ESMABAMA, inspiring confidence in the future and the continuity of its mission.
