The initiative, presented at the congress by ULS Santa Maria's Public Health intern doctor, Filipa Cristóvão, is the result of the Public Health team's work and aims to promote children's health, well-being, and environmental sustainability in school communities. The project is based on the 'pedibus' concept, where groups of children travel predefined routes to school accompanied by trained volunteers.
The goal is to increase physical activity, mobility literacy, socialization, and reduce car usage. Launched in April 2026 in Mafra, it involved 49 children and 13 volunteers, covering 788 kilometers and avoiding an estimated 436 car trips.
For the 2026/2027 academic year, Bor’a Pé is expanding from two to seven routes and from three to eight schools in Mafra, Venda do Pinheiro, and Póvoa da Galega, with an increased network of volunteers. The community project involves schools, families, parent associations, and students from vocational courses. An application is being developed to manage registrations and routes.
