Coimbra was present at the final event of the EU_SHAFE project that gathered 6 European regions to share best practices
The EU_SHAFE project, kicked off in 2019, is in its final stretch. Earlier this week, the city of Bilbao (Bizkaia – Spain) hosted the final event of the project, which was used to retrace the valuable exchange of good practices between the 6 participating European regions: Coimbra (Portugal), Bizkaia (Spain), Aarhus (Denmark), Louth (Ireland), Hamburg (Germany) and Heart of Slovenia (Slovenia).
The main goal of the EU_SHAFE project is to improve policies and initiatives in different European regions by developing a comprehensive approach to Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments (SHEFE). For this, a “learning by sharing” methodology was used, in which the various project partners shared experiences on good practices implemented in each of their regions.
Cáritas Coimbra, during the 1st phase of the project and as a member of the consortium, created a strong and consistent local action group (LAG) with several entities of the Central Region of Portugal with an interest in SHAFE.
After the lessons learnt from the interregional cooperation in the 1st phase, it was unanimous among the regional stakeholders and the project team that Cáritas Coimbra should develop its Action Plan inspired by the good practice of the Health Kiosk of Hamburg.
This consensus resulted from the need, at regional level, to create an innovative pilot project close to the population, in terms of health and well-being promotion, and to be implemented in a more disadvantaged community, aligned with the political strategies for health promotion and inclusion. This is how the Health and Wellbeing Kiosk was born, in collaboration with the Coimbra Health School (ESTeSC).
As the event in Bilbao was the last EU_SHAFE face-to-face meeting, the members of the consortium were accompanied by some of the local stakeholders who contributed to the project’s development. Thus, in addition to the usual presence of Cáritas Diocesana de Coimbra, which is a consortium member, the Coimbra Health School (ESTeSC), Superior School of Education of Coimbra (ESEC-IPC), CIM Região de Coimbra and São José Community Centre.
The working sessions began on 20 March and ran until 22 March, ending with a presentation of the initiatives implemented by each region. During these days, the entities present also had the opportunity to visit examples of good practice in Bilbao, such as the first etxeTIC centre created by the Provincial Institution, which aspires to be in the transition of community healthcare, and the adapted apartments with Etxegoki support.
On the last day of the meeting, Caritas Coimbra together with ESTeSC presented the Action Plan – Health and Wellbeing Kiosk, where some of the results already obtained were included.
The EU_SHAFE project is funded with 1,500,000 euros from Interreg Europe, a pan-European programme co-funded by the European Union alongside Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (until 2020). Throughout its development, the EU_SHAFE project has identified more than 40 good practices that the members of the consortium – Cáritas Coimbra, Razvojni center Srca Slovenije, d.o.o., Center for Frihedsteknologi – Aarhus Kommune, Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta Baile Átha Cliath, ECHAlliance, University of Deusto, Frei und Hansestadt Hamburg, Behorde für Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz and Louth County Council and Bizkaia Provincial Council- have shared with different public authorities and key stakeholders at close to 50 both intra- and inter-regional learning events.
