We can only survive with the help of others. Helping and allowing ourselves to be helped, with the pride of those who fight for the future.
In just over an hour in the middle of the night, everything changed. Roofs opened up, trees broke, and the electricity and communications systems were destroyed.
We received help and distributed it to others; from the first hour of the morning following the storm, we gave away the bread we had and shared the food available in the switched-off refrigerators.
Some people arranged generators and shared an hour to wash a load of laundry... But only after the water finally came back on. They used public fountains and rainwater to be able to use the bathroom for the first week.
Everything passes, the good times and the bad. We will not give up.
We need to rebuild the facilities that allow us to work and provide work. We have to stop the rain from entering the house and stop the leaks that are destroying what remains. Together we can move forward. United we rebuild and start a new life, where the home remains but we have all changed and everything around us is different. Your help makes all the difference.
Thanks
About the author
We are simply people, people living in a shaken and broken community. We work with children in schools, bringing smiles and culture, developing community projects for personal development through musical expression, contributing to active participation in the community.
Our energy created Coopmúsica - a musical cooperative CRL, and I am Joana Caetano, one of the founders of the project. We serve the community of Leiria in different parishes, with our headquarters in the Serra do Porto de Urso, next to the N5 air base in Monte Real.
Stories of fear and insecurity are spreading, and in cafes the first question is whether the lights are on yet... It is urgent to transform this entire experience into a positive construct, and our contribution reaches about fifty classes of children from 4 months to 12 years of age.
Budget and due dates
The estimated budget for redoing what is necessary to safely reopen the spaces is 6000 euros.
Roof tiles, walls, leaks, material replacement...
I'm sorry, but I don't yet know the cost of each phase, as it's very difficult to get more specifics right now, with the technicians spread across thousands of people.
First, we'll patch holes in the roofs to prevent water from getting in, remove damaged materials like wooden tables and chairs and soaked carpets. Then we'll clean everything, take out the trash, and try to dry things off despite the rain not stopping. We'll reorganize the spaces so that the children can be welcomed back. We'll help the schools so that they too can have the necessary conditions for us to do our work.
With time and money, we can replace instruments damaged by falling trees and water damage to wood and metal.
And to keep walking towards rebuilding the present and inventing the future.
The estimated budget for repairing what is necessary to safely reopen the spaces is €6,000.
Roof tiles, walls, leaks, material replacement...
I regret to say that I don't yet know the cost of each phase, as it's very difficult to get more specifics at this point, with the technicians scattered among thousands of people.
For now, we need to patch holes in the roofs to prevent water from entering, remove damaged materials such as wooden tables and chairs and soaked carpets. Then clean everything, remove the trash, and try to dry it despite the rain not stopping. Reorganize the spaces so that the children can be received again. Help the schools so that they too can have the conditions necessary for us to do our work.
With time and money, replace equipment damaged by falling trees and water damage to wood and metal.
And continue working towards reconstruction.
