A few days before the start of the new school year, about 25 Portuguese children and youths from the General Directorate of Childhood, Youth, and Family (DIIJF) embarked on a highly anticipated journey. The trip, inspired by Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days," was the perfect theme for an unforgettable journey through the Basque Country, with a visit to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao being one of the highlights of the "expedition."
The journey allowed them to discover one of the most beautiful communities in northern Spain, known for its strong cultural traditions, acclaimed gastronomy, and a distinctive language that predates the Romance languages.
In all the cities visited, the young explorers learned about the most important historical and tourist attractions, such as the aforementioned Guggenheim Museum, the San Mamés Stadium, home of the city's Athletic Club, a visit to the "old" part of Oviedo, not forgetting the world-renowned University of Salamanca, or a day through the narrow streets and alleys of the city, founded in the 12th century and an important intellectual center in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Discovering new places and cultures opens the mind and spirit. That is what these children and youths did. At the same time, this expedition inspired them to face challenges and believe in their own dreams.
For António Santinha, director of the Support Unit for Autonomy at Santa Casa, "these adventure activities or Road Trips give the groups a great sense of belonging, solidarity, and meritocracy, and the youths feel truly special and strongly connected to the institution and its principles."
What are the Santa Casa Merit Journeys?
Geared towards recognizing the effort and commitment of our children and youths, the merit journeys are not new to the institution. In 2018, the first activity "Merit Award - Expedition to Pico Island" took place, in which a group of children and youths selected by merit traveled to Pico, in the Azores.
A year later, in 2019, the expedition to the Picos de Europa took place, this time with 45 participants and with the descent of the Selhe River as the highlight of the trip. In 2022 they went to the island of Madeira and last year it was Seville's turn to receive the young people from Santa Casa on an adventure inspired by the legendary journeys of Don Quixote.
