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Who We Are

AIPAR, the Association for the Protection of Girls and Families, based in Faro, is a Private Institution of Social Solidarity since 1988.

Its main objective is to support young girls and families, including those in vulnerable situations due to violence or abandonment. According to its statutes, it can create services such as shelters, after-school activities, and promote meetings and seminars. Its mission is to protect and empower, regardless of the social, economic, ethnic, or religious background of the people it serves.

MISSION

To protect and promote the rights of young girls and to support and empower families, while respecting differences.

Painting of a tree

VISION

To be a global, pluralistic, and cohesive institution, recognized as a benchmark in terms of the quality of its intervention with professionals in the field, civil society, and supervisory bodies, establishing itself as a reference point in the reception of young people at risk, the qualification of its assets, and resource management.

To be a benchmark institution in terms of social inclusion and innovative in the field of training and participation of its target audiences, both internal and external, and seen by them as providing an adequate, inclusive, and high-quality service.

To be an institution strongly involved with social, economic, and cultural agents and recognized as a fundamental partner for regional, national, and international development.

VALUES

  • Quality of services provided

  • Rigor, autonomy, responsibility, and flexibility in management

  • Dedication, competence, productivity, and responsibility of professionals

  • Professional ethics

  • Multidisciplinary teamwork

  • Willingness to relocate

Our story

The beginning...

  • The Association was set up by a group of remarkable women, including Teresa Ramalho Ortigão, and has since offered social support to young people from all over the Algarve.

  • The institution established a network of contacts at district and national level and collaborated with the national association in Lisbon, ACISJF, to refer young women for medical treatment that was not available in the region. Initially, social support included temporary reception, layettes, job search and medical assistance.

  • Over time, it evolved into a students' home, which was funded by tuition fees from upper-middle-class young people, enabling it to take in disadvantaged girls to continue their studies. The headquarters changed over the years, finally settling on Rua Monsenhor Henrique Ferreira da Silva no. 10 in 2007, with the building financed by Social Security, Faro City Council and AIPAR itself.

Kids' Paintings_edited.jpg

1932

START

Fundação da Associação de Proteção à Rapariga e à Família

1988

status

Recognized as a Private Institution of Social Solidarity (IPSS).

1997

new stage

A new phase in the life of the Association has begun.

2007

cat

O Centro de Acolhimento Temporário entra em funcionamento (primeira resposta social).

2012

social canteen

As part of the Food Emergency Program, we provide meals to families in the municipality of Faro.

2015

apartment

Beginning of the social response within the scope of the autonomy of young girls (Autonomy Apartment).

2015

CAFAP

Social service aimed at supporting families in the municipality of Faro - Family Support and Parental Counseling Center.

2019

caci

At this time, the Center for Activities and Training for the Inclusion of young people with profound disabilities emerges.

2022

Family foster care

AIPAR is launching its newest social service – Family Foster Care for Children and Young People.

Elected Governing Bodies
Four-Year Term 2025-2028

Meet the AIPAR members who dedicate their time and commitment

to the mission of protecting, supporting, and transforming lives.

General Assembly Board

Joana Maria da

Silva Marques

President

Lúcia de Fátima Brito Viegas Ramos

1st Secretary

Anabela Fátima mestre Pimenta

2nd Secretary

DIREÇÃO

Maria Filomena Teixeira Rosa

President

Bertília Maria de Oliveira Madeira

Vice President

Débora Duarte Moita Brites

Secretary

Cristina Maria de Brito Viegas

Treasurer

Inês dos Santos Vargas

Vowel

SUBSTITUTES

Paula Alexandra Pereira da Silva Fraústo Sena Rodrigues

President

Maria da Conceição Marques Fialho

Vice President

Andreia Sofia Pereira Romeira

Secretary

Sílvia Isabel Pereira

da Palma

Treasurer

Luís Filipe Madeira

dos Reis

Vowel

FISCAL COUNCIL

Rui Manuel Bandeiras Morais Caldeira

President

 Carlos Victor Falcão de Oliveira Queirós

Vowel

Maria de Fátima Lopes Borralho

Vowel

SUBSTITUTES

Maria da Conceição Gago de Sousa Coelho

Maria Isabel Cruz Santos Queirós

Relevant Documents

List of Governing Bodies 2025-2028

Term of Office

2025-2028

AIPAR Statutes

Organizational chart

Declaration of Eligibility of Governing Bodies 2025-2028

Minutes of the Elections

2025-2028

Employee Welcome Manual

Notice of the 2025 General Assembly

Minutes of the Elections

2025-2028

Notice of the 2025 General Assembly

Action Plans

Medal of Merit

The Municipality of Faro has decided to honor the Association for the Protection of Girls and Families with the Gold Medal of Merit.

The award ceremony took place on 7th September 2008, Faro City Day. The public ceremony occurred in the Salão Nobre of the Paços do Concelho.

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