GiraCatavento develops educational and recreational activities in Timor-Leste.
Our goal is to promote the learning of the Portuguese language and the cognitive development of children and young people. In the future, we aim to expand our activities to the PALOP countries. Through initiatives that stimulate curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking, we want to prepare the next generations for a bright future connected to the world.
In 2023, the founder of the association volunteered in Timor-Leste for two months. She worked with hundreds of children, teenagers, young adults, and adults both in extracurricular contexts and in the classroom.
She developed educational activities with the children of the Memo community, Maliana, to increase vocabulary; encouraged creativity with free drawing activities; addressed health topics such as the importance of hygiene, and sustainability topics such as material reuse, and also conducted chemistry experiments that, in addition to scientific knowledge, also encouraged curiosity. And, of course, she taught some traditional Portuguese games, such as “Lenço, lencinho,” “Barra do lenço,” and “Macaquinho do Chinês.”
She also created a Basic Portuguese Course adapted to the needs of the local community. For high school students (tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades) at a secondary school in the Maliana district, she taught Portuguese classes using music as a pedagogical tool. Although verbal communication required a full-time translator and the activities were innovative in the context of Timor-Leste, the community received them very well.
Our founder perceived that the content shared was being internalized in a lasting way by the children and young people, proving the positive impact of the work being done and the potential for such activities to become part of a future project. This is how GiraCatavento was created!
Adriana is our President and a true knowledge enthusiast. She graduated in Biochemistry, Forensic Chemistry, and Biosciences, but she likes to go far beyond books and laboratories, being part of the Artistic Direction of Rancho de Eira Pedrinha, Condeixa-a-Nova, Portugal.
She is Vice-President of miniBIOQS – Science for All Association, because she believes that science should be accessible to everyone. And, even though she says she’s a bit rusty, we can’t resist telling you that she also plays the transverse flute!
Adriana is guided by two mottos that say a lot about her: “Knowledge is never wasted.” and “Why?” is the most powerful question in the vocabulary of any language.” – and perhaps that’s why she’s always ready to learn, question, and inspire.
Inês is our Vice-President and brings with her a wealth of knowledge in Medicinal Chemistry, Advanced Chemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences. But it’s not only in the academic world that she stands out: she has collaborated and volunteered in various organizations and associations, such as miniBIOQS – Science for All Association and Molecular JE, among others, always showing a willingness to contribute and make a difference.
In her free time, she divides her time between weight training, yoga, and pilates sessions — balance is the key word! And when 90s and 00s music plays… no one can get her off the dance floor!
Her life mottos reflect her spirit well: “Let life surprise you and learn from every moment and challenge it brings” and “You’ll only know if it works by trying.”
Paula is our Treasurer and the person who ensures everything is in order on the administrative and financial side of the association. Trained in Secretariat, Administrative Management, and Advisory, she combines organization with a good dose of creativity.
Outside of work, Paula loves being in the kitchen: she is a culinary enthusiast and always ready to try new recipes. Another of her passions is ceramics — creating, shaping, and sculpting are forms of expression that give her immense pleasure.
With a generous heart, she lives by her mottos: “Do what you love and love what you do” and “Be kind, always.”
Pedro is our Chairman of the Fiscal Council and brings with him a background in Biomedical Engineering. He currently works in a company related to renewable energy, specifically in the manufacturing of wind turbines — always spinning towards a more sustainable future!
In his free time, he divides his time between table tennis, as a player at CTM Coimbra, and the canvas, where he unleashes his creativity as a painter.
He follows a motto that is reflected in everything he does: “True intelligence is not knowing everything, but knowing where to find the answers.”
Marco is our Secretary of the Fiscal Council and has a strong background in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. He is a guest lecturer at the University of Coimbra and also acts as a consultant in the areas of Digital Transition, Software, and Brand Management.
Despite all this experience, there is a curious specialty that sets him apart: buying the wrong tickets – whether dates, times, or even locations, no confusion escapes him!
He is a born optimist and his mottos speak for themselves: “Think about the solution, not the problem” and “I don’t know yet, but I will learn.”
João Pedro, better known as JP, is our reporter of the Fiscal Council. Trained in Computer Engineering, he is someone who likes to apply the same logic and dedication both at work and in his personal passions.
In the kitchen, he enjoys experimenting with new recipes; in sports, he is a badminton player and coach; and, to top it off, he also participates in contests – always ready to win the most varied prizes.
The motto that accompanies him reflects his approach to life: “Winners are not those who never fail, but those who never give up.”
Bernardo is the Chairman of our Assembly Board and his background in Chemistry goes hand in hand with his passion for science and knowledge. He was the founder of the National Association of Chemistry Students and Molecular JE – the Junior Enterprise of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Coimbra. In 2023, he took science even further by publishing a children’s science book, “The Science of Things.”
He lives in Portugal but has spent time in Brazil and Italy, experiences that gave him new perspectives and enriched his journey.
His life mottos reflect his way of being: “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be discovered” and “Discontent is the first step in the evolution of a man or a nation.”
Hugo is the 1st Secretary of the Assembly Board and brings with him a solid background in Medicinal Chemistry. He is a true associative entrepreneur: he was a founding member of the Moto Clube Motomeãs and Molecular JE.
When he’s not involved in projects or work, he likes to express himself through dance – especially in Afro-Latin Dances – and also considers himself a big fan of anime and manga.
His life philosophy is summed up in an inspiring motto: “If you don’t like the destination, don’t accept it. Instead, have the courage to change it to what you want it to be.”
Sara is our 2nd Secretary of the Assembly Board and graduated in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Science is one of her great passions, but there’s another that cannot be missed: cats, which always bring a smile to her face.
She was also part of Molecular JE, where she had the opportunity to put her collaborative spirit into practice—something she greatly values.
Her life mottos reflect this way of being: “Together we do better!” and “Helping others is always a good principle!”
In addition to implementing activities created by our volunteers, GiraCatavento also aimed to amplify the network of collaborations in the country. Currently, we have established the following official collaborations:
With the aim of addressing some of the gaps in Timorese education, we have developed various activities that promote constant contact with the Portuguese language, stimulate reading, strategic and critical thinking, fine motor skills, curiosity, creativity, and imagination, as well as vocabulary and quick-thinking games.
