Casa d'Abóbora is a youth association based in the village of Aldeia, in the low-density rural region of Cinfães, Portugal, dedicated to social, cultural and environmental sustainability. It runs European-funded youth, civic engagement and rural revitalisation projects while also hosting artistic residencies at its headquarters.
Casa d'Abóbora is a youth association founded in 2021, born from an informal group of young people who, during the 2020 pandemic, decided to settle in the tiny village of Aldeia, in the Cinfães municipality (Viseu district, Portugal). The association champions social, cultural and economic sustainability, with a strong sense of community and ecological responsibility, aiming to combat rural depopulation and rebuild vibrant, intergenerational rural life.
Its mission centres on preserving, promoting and energising the cultural heritage of this low-density rural territory, developing socio-cultural and artistic activities that bring visitors and local residents together. Casa d'Abóbora is an active partner in several Erasmus+ and EU-funded projects, including RURALEM (Rural Labs on leadership and social entrepreneurship for young people), SMART - Rural Innovators (a youth exchange connecting rural innovators across Europe), and MOVES (Mountain Voices for Engaged and Sustainable Democracy), fostering civic participation, digital citizenship and democratic engagement among rural youth.
Beyond project work, the association runs an artistic residency programme at its headquarters in Covelas, welcoming artists seeking a calm, inspiring space to create, as demonstrated by musical collective Cangapé's stay. The association was recognised with two national awards from the Erasmus+ National Agency for the quality of its educational and inclusion-focused projects.
Casa d'Abóbora is currently renovating its new headquarters to strengthen its capacity to host cultural, community and creative activities, relying on public donations and community support to turn the space into a true home for culture and connection in rural Portugal.
Our Goal
To preserve, promote and energise the cultural heritage of the low-density rural area of Cinfães, fostering an intergenerational and sustainable network that combats rural depopulation and connects visitors with local inhabitants.
Our Wishes
The association is seeking donations to renovate its new headquarters in Aldeia (Covelas, Cinfães) to better host cultural, community and artistic activities, and is also looking for a collaborator to help with logistics for European cultural projects.
