GiraCatavento develops educational and recreational activities in Timor-Leste.
Our goal is to promote the learning of the Portuguese language and the development cognitive of children and young people. In the future, we also aim to take action in 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 association’s founder volunteered in Timor-Leste for two months. She worked with hundreds of children, adolescents, young adults, and adults in both extracurricular and classroom settings.
She developed educational activities with the children of the Memo community, Maliana, to increase their vocabulary; encouraged creativity with free drawing activities; addressed health topics such as the importance of hygiene, and sustainability topics such as the reuse of materials, 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” (Handkerchief, little handkerchief), “Barra do lenço” (Handkerchief bar), and “Macaquinho do Chinês” (Chinese monkey).
She also created a Basic Portuguese Course adapted to the needs of the local community. For secondary school students (tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades) from a secondary school in the municipality of Maliana, 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’s perception was that the shared content was being internalized in a lasting way by the children and young people, which was proof of the positive impact of the work being carried out and the potential for this type of activity to become part of a future project. Thus, GiraCatavento was created!
Adriana is our President and a true enthusiast of knowledge. She graduated in Biochemistry, Forensic Chemistry, and Biosciences, but 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 – Associação Ciência para Todos (Science for All Association), because she believes that science should be accessible to everyone. And, even though she says she’s a little rusty, we can’t resist mentioning that she also plays the transverse flute!
Adriana is guided by two mottos that say a lot about her: “Knowledge takes up no space” and “Why?” is the most powerful question in any language’s vocabulary” – 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 is not only in the academic world that she stands out: she has collaborated and volunteered in various organizations and associations, such as miniBIOQS – Associação Ciência para Todos and Molecular JE, among others, always showing a willingness to contribute and make a difference.
In her free time, she divides herself 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 you” and “You’ll only know if it works if you try it.”
Paula is our Treasurer and the person who ensures that everything is in order on the administrative and financial side of the association. With a background in Secretarial work, Administrative Management, and Consulting, she combines organization with a good dose of creativity.
Outside of work, Paula loves to wear an apron: she is a cooking enthusiast and is always ready to try new recipes. Another of her passions is ceramics — creating, molding, and sculpting are forms of expression that give her immense pleasure.
With a generous heart, she lives according to her mottos: “Do what you love and love what you do” and “Be kind, always.”
Pedro is our Chairman of the Supervisory Board and brings with him a background in Biomedical Engineering. He currently works in a company linked to renewable energy, more precisely in the manufacture of wind turbines — always spinning towards a more sustainable future!
In his free time, he divides himself between the tennis tables, as a player at CTM Coimbra, and the canvas, where he gives wings to his creativity as a painter.
He follows a motto that is reflected in everything he does: “True intelligence is not in knowing everything, but in knowing where to find the answers.”
Marco is our Secretary of the Supervisory Board and has a strong background in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. He is a guest lecturer at the University of Coimbra and also works as a consultant in the areas of Digital Transition, Software, and Brand Management.
Despite all this experience, there is a curious specialty that distinguishes him: 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’m going to learn.”
João Pedro, better known as JP, is our rapporteur of the Supervisory Board. With a degree 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 well translates his way of being in life: “Winners are not those who never fail, they are those who never give up.”
Bernardo is the President of our General Assembly 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 Company of the Chemistry Department of the University of Coimbra. In 2023, he took science even further by publishing a children’s science outreach book, “A Ciência das Coisas” (The Science of Things).
He lives in Portugal, but has spent time in Brazil and Italy, experiences that have given 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 General Assembly 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 is not involved in projects or work, he likes to express himself through dance – especially in Afro-Latin Dances – and also assumes himself as a big fan of anime and manga.
His philosophy of life can be summed up in an inspiring motto: “If you don’t like your destiny, don’t accept it. Instead, have the courage to change it into what you want it to be.”
Sara is our 2nd Secretary of the General Assembly and has a degree in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Science is one of her great passions, but there is another that could not be missing: 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 values very much.
Her life mottos are a reflection of this way of being: “Together we do better!” and “Helping others is always a good principle!”
In addition to implementing the activities created by our volunteers, GiraCatavento also aimed to amplify the network of collaborations in the country. At the moment, we have established the following official collaborations:
With the aim of filling some of the gaps in Timorese education, we develop several activities that promote permanent 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.
