A social intervention cooperative based in Covilhã. For 18 years it has worked in Cova da Beira on gender equality and against domestic violence. It also works for social justice, solidarity economy and ecological awareness.
CooLabora, CRL is a social intervention cooperative in Covilhã. It supports victims of domestic and gender-based violence, trains professionals, runs community awareness campaigns and builds effective networks between institutions. Founded in 2008, it covers three municipalities in Cova da Beira: Belmonte, Covilhã and Fundão. For 18 years its work has been feminist, collaborative and rooted in the territory, with a focus on equality, human rights and social justice. It keeps a Gabinete de Apoio, a support office for victims of domestic violence.
Some of its projects are for children, young people and vulnerable populations. “Quero Ser Mais E9G” mixes civic education, media literacy (through “Detectives da Verdade”), fashion and sport to build young people's self-esteem and critical thinking. Another project, “Rede Troca a Tod@s”, works on solidarity economy, sustainability and community bonds in the region.
Ecology is part of the cooperative's work too. It hosts art exhibitions, including “Plantar +10¹⁰: Para uma ecologia profunda da arte de viver” and “Só a Arte nos (pode) salva(r)”, which explore deep ecology and the aftermath of wildfires. CooLabora also takes part in academic and activist networks. One is the ProActCop seminar on professional activism, run in partnership with research centres and international scholars.
Workshop participants can use the Tool Bench (Bancada de Ferramentas), an economical and ecological way of sharing tools. The organisation relies on community support, including tax designations through the Portuguese IRS Modelo 8 scheme. That support sustains its free psychological support, social skills training and social inclusion programmes for children and adolescents in vulnerable situations.
Our Goal
CooLabora works for human development, equality and social justice in Cova da Beira (Belmonte, Covilhã and Fundão). Combating gender-based and domestic violence is a strong focus. It also works to foster solidarity economy and to build democratic, feminist and ecologically conscious communities.
Our Wishes
CooLabora is looking for support from the community in two ways: tax designation through IRS Modelo 8, and taking part in its workshops, campaigns and exhibitions. Both help sustain its social intervention programmes for children, young people and vulnerable people.
