Agro-charrette aims to plant some seeds towards a participative, conscious, healthier, social and economically responsible rural community of a village in the north of Portugal: Apúlia.
There is a lack of dialogue and community initiatives. The sales of the farmers decreased due to Covid-19. There are different views on agriculture production.
We intend to develop a communal project through the charrette method focused on the agricultural field. The main target groups are farmers&restaurants.

Apúlia is a coastal Portuguese village in the north of Portugal.

One of Apúlia’s main economic activities is agriculture,which were undermined by the pandemic and consequent lockdowns.Usually,mostly of the farmer’s revenue comes from the demand of the hospitality sector, principally restaurants.AND is sensitive to this issue, due to the close relation that it has with the farmers and distributers that have been donating their crops for people in difficult socio-economic conditions and social institutions. Challenges:
Shortage of communal projects focused on people, their development and future;
Absent initiatives engaging citizens and promoting dialogue;
Lack of awareness on the influence of vegetables’ cultivation & consumption to public health;
Different views on agriculture production (intensive agricultureversus a healthier and responsible one)

The main target groups that we’ll be working with are:
- Farmers and distributers and sellers of agricultural products;
- Restaurant sector;
- General population.
According to the Census of 2011, Apúlia has a total population of 4,198 inhabitants.Around 50% of the employed population works in the tertiary sector (consumer and business services). This sector includes hospitality, such as restaurants, which is a big part of the local economy.On the other hand, 11% of the employed population works in the primary sector (agriculture and fishery).

Activities
1Develop a participatory community project for analysing,discussing&reshaping the institutionalised agricultural practices of vegetable cultivation–charrette events
2Organize a market of products to raise awareness about healthy&locally cultivated vegetables
3Create a video showcasing the cycle of crops that are donated for AND,and are distributed among vulnerable families&Social Institutions
4Create a label to acknowledge farmers who are being socially responsible(environmentally & socially)
Steps
Prep:
1.1Create a visual identity for the project
1.2Make an evaluation plan
1.3Identify needs with the stakeholders and target groups&have meetings with expert
1.4Have meetings with the facilitator and experts together
1.5Hire someone/attend training for the facilitation process
1.6Deliver a capacity building training for the experts on community development
1.7Make targeted invitations
Impl:
1.1Organize the event during summer time
1.2Ensure health&safety compliance(COVID-19)
1.3Organize social barbecues
1.4Organize carriage tours
1.5Devise a group activity to evaluate the events
1.6Provide support for the ideas that arise
2.1Engage the community(farmers,sellers&buyers)
3.1Film the cycle of vegetacollection&distribution
Methods:Non-formal education,Charrette
Approach:Targeted invitations,Develop trust,Develop an informal and convivial atmosphere

The project expects to:
Engage inhabitants in communal projects, especially the farmers and the consumers;
Empower the population through non-formal education to have a say in matters that affect them;
Foster the consumption of healthy and locally produced vegetables by the community of the village, boosting the local economy,which has been undermined by the present pandemic;
Foster health and sustainable education within and with the community;
Promoting a socially responsible community culture, by showing the distributers that are already donating crops to AND, the impact of this kind gesture and, hopefully, make more distributors adhere to this initiative;

The charrette method is usually used for community transformation.After the barbecues and the icebreaking moments,we will initiate the community engagement and discussions on a topic familiar to all:agriculture.One of the perks of the non-formal education experience is the empirical learning that it allows,leading to reflection&applying what was learnt to change old behaviours.People will better realize the importance of community work for better living in long run.Non-formal education will be used to help work as a team,tailored to ease communication and self-expression.Special attention will be paid to those who are uneducated, shy,and lacking in confidence.We will carefully listen to all participants’ concerns and opinions,especially those who will be affected by the outcomes.

Dennis Molinski,responsible of SEA project,Amor Jacobs in the administrative area,Maria Jose Diaz,office manager.These foreigners,arrived in Portugal to aid a national family that wanted to go to Africa.The emerging crises in Portugal opened doors of service, and we joined the Lisbon AND team withwhom we shared the vision of a better world,together helping many all these years.In Apulia we found friendly,hardworking,and generous people that give generously while not having much themselves.Recently Raquel, born and raised in Apulia,with a background in adult education&community intervention, joined our team,with the vision of helping her own people.Our goal is to create the foundations for a socially active town, engaging the go-getters in the search of solutions to their problems.

Staff costs – €3,000 (3 experts) + €11,700 (1 person)
Travel and accommodation – €2,500
Transportation of participants – €250
Gasoline – €5,000
Tolls – €1,000
Vieo, Design and Communication - €3,000
Printed materials – € 1,500
Office material and supplies (non-formal education) – €700
Sanitary products – €1,000
Barbecue and event’s snacks – €1,000
Renting material (counters, licenses) – €1,500
Merchandising – €300
Unforseen costs – €1,000

We would like to receive feedback from people who have similar experience with rural communities. We appreciate comments on better strategies for rural community engagement and development.
Anyone that has already put in place a charrette event that would like to give feedback?