The Bagos d’Ouro Methodology

Believing in education as a way of reversing the cycle of poverty and social exclusion, Bagos d’Ouro, in partnership with institutions and companies, develops a methodology which supports intervention on the ground, acting at the level of the child/young person, family, school and community.

Bagos d’Ouro methodology is based on a proximity strategy and a preventive and timely intervention. 

Regular school and family support are provided together with the design of case by case tailored programs, where children, young people and their parents are held responsible and are involved in the definition of yearly goals and work to achieve them. We work directly with parents, teachers, volunteers and local social partners, all of them essentialagents in this whole process.
 
Taking into consideration this monitoring, Bagos d’Douro is also developing its methodology in terms of projects and activities with companies and partners whose fields of knowledge help us to work on personal and social skills, reading habits, vocations, entrepreneurship and employability.
 
1. Objectives

• To provide social support to families and ensure decent living conditions
• To develop personal, social and emotional skills
• To promote and support the educational success of children and young people
• To guide and promote integration in active life, primarily in the region 


2. Signalling Process

The identification of children and youth to be supported is networked with Local Social Partners and is based on the following signaling criteria:
• children in the first and second cycles of education, lacking educational opportunities. 
• young people in the 3rd cycle of Basic Education and in the Upper Secondary Education with high school scores (Good and very good).
• they live in the Douro region, in the municipalities where Bagos d’Ouro operates.
• from families with proven economic shortage (Step A).


Proximity Intervention

The Bagos d'Ouro Methodology, based on a proximity strategy, provides for regular school and family support and links with teachers, social partners and a network of community volunteers available to help us.
 
The work of Bagos d’Ouro is based on identification, commitment and demand, and involving children and young people, as well as their parents, empowering them in the defining of their goals and working together to achieve them.


3. Intervention Programs

The work on the ground is guided by different programs: 
• Family Social Support Program
• Educated for the Future Program (1st and 2nd Cycles)
• Integrate in the region (3rd Cycle, Secondary and Higher Education)
 

Family Social Support Program
     
• Provide emotional support to families
• Promote appropriate parenting practices with a view to greater accountability and enhancement of school and work
• Ensure the necessary material resources in response to their needs: food, housing, health (screening, consultation and medication) and     adequate clothing

These goals are pursued through bi-monthly home visits and the establishment of a commitment to family.


Educate for the Future Program 
(1st and 2nd cycles)

• Monitor the school situation (motivation, performance, attendance, school performance)
• Promote personal and social skills
• Work organisation strategies and study skills
• Involve parents in tracking the education of their children
• Create appropriate educational experiences
• Ensure the necessary school supplies for continuing education
• Develop entrepreneurial skills
  
Integrate in the Region Program 

(3rd Cycle, Secondary and Higher Education)
 
• Monitor performance and academic achievement
• Guide the vocational/professional choice
• Create appropriate educational and professional experiences (english, summer internships, volunteering)
• Ensure the material and financial resources required for the continuation of studies 
• Promote, track and monitor the insertion into active life


Project Mentor 
(1st and 2nd cycles)

Project developed in partnership with the consultant Jason Associates, wiIth the objective of identifying a mentor for each child.
Mentor helps the child and his/her family to develop skills in daily routines, personal appreciation, behavior, verbal expression, school attendance among others.

This project is currently being tested through a pilot who works 6 Mentors/6 Children.


Reportagem Porto Canal

Notícia JN "Mentores ajudam crianças a serem felizes!"


The Place of Books 

(1st and 2nd cycles)

Project developed in partnership with ROFF, with the concern to combating social inequalities through free access of books in the interest of children and young people in order to promote reading habits. For this purpose a solidarity platform was developed for search and request books donated by ROFF, which already has 610 books.
 
"The Sítio dos Livros allowed  ROFF and its employees to be involved in a social responsibility project that, we believe, is a real asset for the children in the Douro."
Monica Ferreira | Roff


Take Action I Holds you in the Douro 

(3rd Cycle, Secondary and Higher Education)

The project Take Action | Holds you in the Douro intends to work with the vocational choice of the young people we support through actions that promote knowledge of professions and local activities, as well as the construction of the imagination; it also promotes personal skills, employability and entrepreneurship to facilitate the going into the labour market or the creation of one's own jobs.

This project, was designed for the biennium 2016/2017 with Jason Associates and full supported by More Movement For AIl, a partnership LIDL/SIC Esperança.  The plan should be replicated in 2018/2019 in the two new regions, Armamar e Murça where the seeds of performances are expected to develop substantially.
 
TAKE ACTION I | Awakening companies - Young people of the 3rd cycle
TAKE ACTION II | Approach to the Profession in Secondary Education
TAKE ACTION III | Integrate the region- Young people of the professional and Higher Education


Activities and Support

• Redevelopment of the area of Study- every child/youth has an organized  and motivating study space, with good light and comfort
• Integration in leisure activities and holiday camps
• Individual support in subjects with learning difficulties
• Back-to-school support with textbooks and school supplies
• Scholarships/Fellowships and internship