Cova da Moura

This afternoon we visited the neighbourhood where we are going to run a street art - science project. Rory and I agreed it was one of the biggest formative experiences of our lives so far.

Lots of people here don’t have portuguese passports/paperwork, despite being born here. Many Africans from former Portuguese colonies came in the 1970s, many legally but they were nonetheless unable to rent accommodation in Lisbon (essentially due to racism). Eventually they build their own houses here, these would routinely be removed by police/council but then they would rebuild them. Now almost all (under 50) are born here, but have poor conditions - the power supply was turned off for months, the school here has been closed down, the social club closed too. Many people we met have gone to prison, it’s really a ghetto and it’s 20min from Lisbon centre. And yet there is SO much creativity and generosity here. Look at how they have painted this entire street! They have made their own libraries and businesses in their living rooms and the whole society is cash-based. They are so excited to do the street art project, we met many teens who are eager but also adults who are just delighted that an institution like Fundaçao Champalimaud is going to run a program here. Feeling very positive, but there is lots to be done.