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An unforgettable experience!
The second half of the school exchange between Agrupamento de Escolas de Silves Sul and Wilden School in Southampton took place between 4 and 9 July.
The Exchange Project was arranged and sponsored by the Rotary Clube de Silves to provide participants with opportunities to experience school life in the UK. The project was started in 2013 and has run successfully since then with a break during the pandemic The English students spent time in the Algarve in March, and this was the chance for the Portuguese students to attend an English school and stay with the host UK families.
Rotary Club President Pam Winn travelled with the 5 students and two teachers who unanimously agreed how useful the trip had been. This kind of activity not only improves language and communication skills but allows participants to develop new skills and ideas along the way.
One parent after the trip said
“Thank you, RC Silves and all the teachers involved for this unforgettable experience. I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the fantastic exchange experience between our Portuguese kids and the English students. It was truly unique and invaluable. An experience filled with learning, sharing, and connection. I am immensely especially grateful for the opportunity you have provided to our children. This experience has enriched them in countless ways, both personally, and culturally, and will surely stay with them for a lifetime.”
RC Silves Celebrates its Achievements and Looks Forward to a New Rotary Year
Members, visiting Rotarians and guests gathered in Silves to look back at President Jim Kennedy’s many achievements in the past year and to look forward to new President Pam Winn’s focus for the in coming year 25/26.
As is traditional Jim and Pam performed the Flag ceremony with honoured guest José Manuel Sosa Governor’s assistant for the coming year. Jim passed the baton on to Pam with the president’s pin and the President’s collar. Congratulations were received form the Rotary Club of Almancil, the District Governor via Jose Sosa Governor’s Assistant and with a flag exchange from RC Canterbury.
Following the formalities, members and guests enjoyed a traditional afternoon tea and the music of Jackson Rivers. Alan thanked two of the winners from the cookery Competition who volunteered to serve the drinks. A happy day was had by all in fellowship.
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.
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/
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.
The First Biodiversity School Forest
In 2023 Escola EB 2,3 Algoz was selected to house the first Biodiversity Forest to be planted as part of RC Silves environmental projects. On 8 November, 320 indigenous trees and shrubs were planted by students and rotary club members, supported by Silves Camera President Rosa Palma
This was the first step in creating a small, 100sqm, dense woodland where a new ecosystem could exist. In the centre of the forest is a learning space and adjacent is a small laboratory. Student volunteers will care for the newly planted saplings until they are established. The students at the school will be able to observe the various development stages as the forest grows after using the Miyawaki principles of planting.
On 14 November the finishing touches were added after the planting of the two final Carvalho de Monchique oak trees by Deputy Camera President Luisa Conduto and Rotary District Governor Paulo de Taveira Sousa. The completion of this project by Silves Rotary club provides the school with a living environment to use as a source of inspiration and research as part of the saving the planet curriculum.
Club President Jim Kennedy thanked all involved for the efforts in bringing this important project to completion with special thanks to Rainer Kroth who led the project from its inception. Silves council prepared the ground, Nutriverde Algar grew our plants and trees and Sonia Soares from Floresta Nativa advised on the planting. Thanks must also go to Porches International Rotary Club for their considerable financial support.
Rotary Clube de Silves 