Climate Gatherings in Sousel

This 3-day event aims to stimulate the whole community of Sousel to consider children’s role in climate governance and give them a chance to reflect on mechanisms to promote their active participation. 

It is organized in partnership with the Municipality of Sousel, a local association called Era Uma Voz, a PhD research Project called "The World is Ours - Climate Debates," and the European Climate Pact in Portugal. 

On the first day, Saturday, the 17th of October, 3.00 pm, the documentary "Future Council" will be exhibited at the local municipal library for families, children and young people. 

The documentary is meant to spark a collective reflection on children’s rights in the face of climate change and on their untapped agency’s potential. This will be followed by a public debate about the role of children in climate governance. 

On Sunday, the 18th of October, at 11.00 am, a collective climate-inspired artistic mural is meant to gather people around the climate cause, while deepening reflections on the emotions sparked by children’s book reading and a short performance of parts of “A Cruzada das Crianças” by author Afonso Cruz. This will take place at the headquarters of Association Era Uma Voz, in a small village called Casa Branca. All families will be invited to participate. 

The final event will take place at the main school in Sousel on the 20th of October from 9.00 am, where the Mayor of the Municipality of Sousel, the Vice Mayor, and the Councilor responsible for the environment will meet over a hundred children. This event is meant to empower children who participated in a Legislative Theatre the year before, in the context of a PhD research project, and voted for a proposal to spend a Day with the Mayor in school. 

The meeting will consist of a debate about the role of children in climate governance.