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RC Silves Celebrates with their Entrepreneur of Year
The Entrepreneur of the Year award is in recognition of outstanding achievements in business in our community.
Nidia is the owner and Chef de Cuisine at Restaurant D’Mestres which is situated close to the market hall in Pêra. Having transformed an old unused building in Pêra into an Alentejo themed restaurant with murals depicting her family heritage in the region. Since opening in April 2024 she has thrilled her clientele with fabulous food and great service to rave online reviews.
Silves Rotary club has been lucky enough to hold their post meeting lunches there since July of last year.
Jim Kennedy, Club President said “I cannot think of a more deserving recipient of this award and I am honoured to be able to present it to Nidia on the anniversary of her opening the restaurant.”
Nidia has truly created something special taking traditional Alentejo cuisine to a new level. In my mind her success was assured with the first mouthful, add to that the warm welcome from her and her team it has proved to be a winning formula which brings high praise from its patrons. But Nidia does not forget the local community either with her generosity and community spirit.
D’Mestres restaurant is a great success and RC Silves is happy to be part of its story.
Cookery Competition the Team 1 Final
Ten judges gathered at Algoz School on the 2 April to taste the food created by the students and paired with local wines. They were to be judged on the food and the service in this first final. The students greeted the judges and lead them to their table. A vision in blue with candles and flowers.
The predinner drink of Port and Tonic was presented in a glass decorated with a flower. The Menu was interesting, and the judges were looking forward to the tasting. The first course of Shrimp Bisque was delivered in a wine glass what a good start. It was so good that the judges forgot to take a picture. The main course of Duck breast with vegetables on a green bed was served with an Algarve local wine and was followed by an orange pudding and almond liquor.
Well done to team 1! The judges look forward to the second final with team 2. It is going to be a tough competition.
UK Portugal School Exchange Programme resumes after 4-year delay.
On 14 March 5 students and 2 teachers from Wildern School in Southampton arrived at Faro airport for a 5 day stay with their Portuguese host families.
Students and Teachers at the Rotary Peace Garden at Faro Airport
The last time that the annual exchange which started in 2013 took place was in March 2020. A mixture of the Covid Pandemic and concerns over Brexit causing the gap in this valuable programme
The exchange is coordinated and funded by the Rotary Club of Silves as part of their educational support programmes.
Students spend time with host families experiencing life and culture in each other’s country. They also attend school lessons and take part in other educational activities.
The poor weather this spring did not dampen the enthusiasm of all involved. The students enjoyed the brief sunshine at Salgados Beach as well as a visit to Silves to see the castle and Archaeology Museum in Silves.
All Students together in Salgados and visiting King Sancho 1
Friendships were formed, language skills improved, and confidence grew as the days passed.
The Rotary Club of Silves members would like to thank all involved including the parents, teachers and school managers of both Wildern school in the U.K. and Agupamento de Escolas de Silves Sul here in the Algarve.
The Portuguese students will visit Southampton from 4 July for the return visit. Hopefully as in the past, the students and host families will forge friendships that will last well into the future.
Antonio Lambe, Environmental Action for the Algarve, supported by Joanne Rodrigues
The members of RC Silves are very interested in their environment and work to enhance and maintain it. They were amazed to hear that there was an environmental problem so close to their homes. Antonio Lambe and Joanne Rodrigues from “Environmental action for the Algarve”, opened our eyes to the landfill problems on our doorstep.
Antonio came to the Algarve with his parents in the 60’s from Argentina and they created a lovely landscape around their home. Joanne is a restaurant owner near Odelouca.
To the west of Silves is a waste landfill where the operators of this site have applied to extend it into four surrounding areas. It is already causing a great nuisance to the local people. The rubbish delivered to the site is fed on by Storks and other birds.
The rubbish ferments and produces gases which add to the climate change. Joanne who runs a local restaurant is plagued by flies and this is ruining her business. These sites can also catch fire as they produce heat, bio gases and methane. There is also noise pollution from the heavy machinery needed at these sites.
A leap forward in recycling is required by the population of Portugal currently we are the 4th worst in the world.
Antonio’s presentation was followed by a discussion by members about many of the possible answers to this problem. Such as Biodigesters, Incinerators, Composting and encouraging the people of Portugal through education, incentives and financial penalties to recycle more.
Rotary Peace Garden
On 22 February 2025 the rotary clubs of the Algarve inaugurated a Peace Garden at Faro Airport in celebration of 120 years of Rotary and it’s commitment to peace. All the clubs from the Algarve were represented. President Jim Kennedy, Secretary Pam Winn and Peace Fellow Petra Vahle Francis were there to represent RC Silves. An olive tree was planted by the District Governor and representatives of Tavira Rotaract Club and Albufeira Interact Club. The Peace Pole and the plaque marked the spot.
The ceremony finished with a flash mob. All the rotarians joined together to sing “Let’s Make the World a Better Place”
Video link:- https://maisalgarve.pt/2025/02/25/rotary-jardim-da-paz-aeroporto/
Walking Praia da Falésia with Friends
One of the many activities pursued by RC Silves are fellowship walks. On the 8 February a small group gathered on the spectacular cliffs of Falésia to walk the beach and return by the cliff tops.
The striking cliffs of Praia da Falésia near Albufeira are the result of a long geological process shaped by sedimentation, erosion, and tectonic activity.
They are an impressive example of how weathering and erosion shape sedimentary landscapes over millions of years. Their striking colors and steep formations are due to differences in mineral composition and the ongoing geological and climatic processes. The combination of red, orange, white, and darker layers creates the stunning contrast that makes this coastline so visually striking. The views from the cliff tops are not for the faint hearted.
If you would like to be notified of any walks in the future please contact our Master of Ceremonies (MOC.rotarysilves@gmail.com) There is a small charge of 5€ the proceeds go to RC Silves projects. All walks are at our own risk.
Practice Rounds of the New Cooking Competition
The 22nd January saw the first practice round for the new cookery competition based at Algoz School. Team 1 presented 3 courses with drinks to 5 Judges who fed back to students following their feast. The competition runs until the 14 May and culminates with a cook off between the best two teams. The competition offers the chefs and waiters a challenge and audience for their food.
Practice 1
Team 2 presented their 3 courses on the 19 February. Seven judges enjoyed a treat. The team worked hard to present their food on a delightful table setting.
The team produced Pea Soup, Tamboril with seasonable vegetables and a cookie surprise so good the judges forgot to take a picture.
Watch this space for future rounds!
Students demonstrate their new public speaking skills.
Silves Rotary club members and guests were amazed at the confidence on display by the students who had attended the Model United Nations meeting in South Manchester UK in October.
The students attended their two-day event last October along with 300+ students from other schools around the U.K. and Netherlands. Although they were overwhelmed at first by the end of the first day, they were holding their own in the committee’s discussing such important issues as child labour, human trafficking and the global migration problem. During that time their English language improved significantly, their confidence and self-esteem blossomed and by the start of the second day they were on equal terms.
The students thanked club members for making the trip possible and said how much it had changed their lives.
The two teachers who travelled with the students were amazed by the improvement in confidence and language and hoped that the club will be able to arrange further visits in the years to come.
It was great to see the students talk so confidently in front of an entirely adult audience. Alan Winn who leads the Education Projects for Rotary Silves asked the students a few questions. Answers, Yes they would like to go again! Yes they are still in contact with other students they met ant the conference and “Fish and Chips!”
Diretor Carlos Silva of the Agrupamento de Escolas de SilvesSul, thanked members for the support they give to the school and said working in partnership and friendship has made a difference over many years to the pupils of the school.
Rotarians agreed that it was one of the best rotary meetings they have attended.
Best Year Ever for Christmas Shoeboxes for the Elderly
This Christmas marked the 20th year that Castelo de Sonhos has distributed shoeboxes of goodies to the elderly folk around Silves. Well over 300 boxes were collected and distributed which is the most ever received. Rotary Club of Silves partners with Castelo de Sonhos at Christmas and members contributed shoeboxes to the total. Rotary Shoeboxes are always sought after. This year with the large amount of boxes received, we were able to deliver boxes to Associação Gaurda-Chuva, Barlavento Hospital and Care Homes looking after people with no family.
The smile says it all……
Delivering Christmas Shoe boxes to Barlavento Hospital
Silves Rotary Club members Petra Vahle Francis and Alan Winn deliver shoe box Christmas presents to Barlavento Hospital in Portimao to be given to patients on the psychiatric ward who will remain in hospital over Christmas.
Rotary Clube de Silves 