The municipality of Matosinhos, in partnership with the Associação Crocodile Project, is launching the Escola d’Ofícios (School of Crafts), an initiative focused on transforming discarded materials into valuable resources. The project aims to provide personal, professional, and social development opportunities for around 200 participants, including users, technicians, and volunteers from four local institutions.
The project was presented at the former Vasco da Gama Factory, with the presence of the vice-president of the Câmara Municipal de Matosinhos, Carlos Mouta, and the Councillor for Education, Nuno Matos. The initiative combines environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and economic value creation, using experimentation and practical knowledge to give new life to materials that would otherwise be wasted.
Through the integration of traditional crafts, creativity, design, and innovation, the Escola d’Ofícios seeks to contribute to territorial regeneration and the development of skills for new green and blue professions. Weekly sessions will be held over 24 weeks, in coordination with the Matosinhos Volunteering Project (V.E.M.).
One of the first planned actions is the collaborative construction of a community Christmas tree, in partnership with the Day Centre of Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, Biquinha em Ação (ADEIMA), AAJUDE, and ALADI. This piece will be exhibited in a municipal space, highlighting the collective work and the transformation of reused materials.
The project also has a strong social proximity component, aiming to broaden participation to diverse groups, including individuals supported by institutions working in the areas of childhood, disability, and aging. The goal is to enhance autonomy, stimulate creativity, and create contexts for learning and collaboration.
The Associação Crocodile Project, established in July 2025, is a private non-profit entity focused on environmental, social, and economic areas, working to transform waste into value through the reuse of recyclable materials and the combination of traditional crafts, design, innovation, and circular economy principles.
