PORTUGAL
Every two years, the Union of Portugal honours a woman under the age of 40 who has distinguished herself through her associative activities or social projects. This year, the Teresa Rosmaninho Prize was awarded to Filipa Raimundo, a 29-year-old woman from Setúbal.
The Teresa Rosmaninho Prize was created in memory of Teresa Rosmaninho, Soroptimist and dedicated activist of women’s rights, in the fight against gender inequality and discrimination. Considered a pioneer in the defence of victims of domestic violence, she founded “Casa Abrigo”, a shelter for women and children who are confronted with this violence on a daily basis. Today, her daughter, Catarina Seabra Côrte-Real, also a human rights activist and Soroptimist, is at the head of the institution.
Teresa Rosmaninho |
For its 5th trophy, the President of the Union of Portugal, Patricia Moreno, in unanimity with the representatives of the Portuguese Soroptimist clubs, awarded the Teresa Rosmaninho Prize to Filipa Raimundo for her life journey. Filipa had a tumultuous childhood in a dysfunctional family. Pregnant at the age of 17, with no family support, she turned to “Pequena Grande Mãe”, a shelter supported by SI Setúbal. It welcomes pregnant women and teenage mothers up to the age of 18, living in the surrounding neighbourhoods. She managed to raise and educate her son, while doing odd jobs and going back to school. After these difficult years, Filippa has become a fundamental voice for improving the lives and status of women and girls in local organizations, encouraging them to learn and study to reach their individual and collective potential, get a job and achieve gender equality.
Filipa Raimundo is a great example, which will certainly honour the memory of Teresa Rosmaninho, as she proved to be an enterprising and spokesperson, with local society, to become a true leader in defending the issues and principles that are part of the great mission of Soroptimist International.
To read the full article in Portuguese, click here.
And to read it in English, click here.