Nursing home nears completion 15 years later

The process began in 2009, with the aim of creating a nursing home and home support for the elderly population in Vila Verde da Raia. At the time, the Nosso Senhor dos Milagres Association was set up to move forward with the project and apply for European funding. However, while the establishment as a Private Social Solidarity Institution (IPSS) happened in record time, around two months, obtaining support took much longer. The first application was submitted after the project was drawn up, but it was not approved.

Even so, the association did not give up and some time later the work began, even without support from the State or Europe. To move forward with the construction of the home, several initiatives were held to raise funds, including lunches, dinners and auctions, and several residents contributed donations. With the contribution of the population, including some who lived abroad, the association raised around 470 thousand euros, and the municipality gave, at the time, another 70 thousand. The work progressed in stages and “the entire skeleton of the building was ready, but then we ran out of money and stopped”, explained the president of the association, Carminda Moura. The last part was the installation of the roof around 10 years ago.