The Minister of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho, the Secretary of State for Labor, Miguel Fontes, and the Secretary of State for Inclusion, Ana Sofia Antunes, attended the inauguration ceremony of the Center of Expertise for Active Aging (CCEA) in Loulé.
The new structure aims to “train and empower all individuals dealing in some way with aging and, therefore, develop techniques to respond to and stimulate active aging in its various dimensions,” said Ana Mendes Godinho.
Training will also be provided to workers from entities involved in providing care to the elderly, informal caregivers of the elderly, and organizations promoting the creation and development of projects in these areas.
It can also be seen as a “decisive partner in shaping public policies dedicated to aging,” she added.
The Center of Expertise for Active Aging is a collaborative center, with signatories including the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training, the Social Security Institute, and institutions within the Portuguese Network of Active and Healthy Aging, including the University of Beira Interior and the Association for the Development of the Center for Biomedical Research and Training in the Algarve.
The Minister stated that the new structure “can be an instrument not only for the training and empowerment of individuals but also a decisive partner in shaping public policies dedicated to aging.”
The CCEA will start operating in the IEFP building in Loulé, but a protocol was also signed during the ceremony between the Municipal Council and the Institute for the concession of land where new facilities will be constructed. The funding for CCEA is part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
“The pandemic has shown that it is really necessary to invest in qualifications, in what makes a difference, in valuing workers, in empowering people aligned with the challenges and skills of the future,” emphasized the Minister of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security.