The event ‘Todas as Cores’ (All Colors) brought together over 30 nationalities in a multicultural environment.
Last Saturday, the Funchal City Council held the ‘Todas as Cores’ event, gathering over one hundred participants from 30 different nationalities in a multicultural setting focused on health and well-being. The event encompassed various initiatives and public spaces across the city, from the Lido Gardens to the Almirante Reis Gardens, concluding at Barreirinha, and included diverse activities such as yoga, CrossFit, walking, and dance.
Bridging Cultures and Fostering Integration
Councilwoman Ana Bracamonte, responsible for the Department of Diaspora and Migration, stated that the event was part of the ‘Humanity is Diversity’ campaign and concluded May’s programming, which was dedicated to celebrating Cultural Diversity in the Municipality.
She also recalled that Funchal currently hosts over 7,000 foreign residents from 123 different nationalities. Bracamonte emphasized that the City Council, through the creation of the Department of Diaspora and Migration under her purview, has been, for the first time, actively organizing a series of events specifically aimed at the integration of these communities. “The objective is to promote interaction between locals and foreigners in various contexts — sporting, cultural, and environmental — and to create bonds that transcend linguistic or cultural barriers,” she affirmed.
A Strategic Approach to Social Cohesion
Bracamonte also highlighted that initiatives like ‘Todas as Cores’ play a strategic role in consolidating a municipal integration policy. “At a time when European cities face increasing challenges of social cohesion, Funchal demonstrates that promoting joint outdoor activities in prominent public spaces is an effective tool to combat prejudice and facilitate coexistence. These actions reflect a modern interpretation of migratory dynamics: immigrants are not merely ‘beneficiaries’ of welcoming policies, but agents who add economic, cultural, and social value to the territory. By providing informal meeting opportunities — where sport, culture, and leisure act as bridges of understanding — we encourage more active and inclusive citizen participation.”
Leveraging Local Associations for Mutual Support
Furthermore, by involving entities such as the Workers’ Cultural and Sports Center, the Madeira Friends Association, and OpenDance Madeira, the Funchal Municipality leverages the potential of local associations to strengthen mutual support networks. This cross-cutting of objectives — health, culture, sport, and community intervention — reflects a systemic political approach, where immigrant integration is intertwined with youth, environmental, and sports policies.
Funchal’s Role as a Regional Capital
It is important to emphasize that Funchal, as a regional capital, assumes increased responsibilities: managing migratory flows in insular contexts brings specific challenges, such as limited resources, geographical proximity, and the need to preserve local traditions. Thus, by organizing events that highlight cultural plurality, the municipality reinforces the message that diversity is a strategic asset for economic and social development.
“This is a political vision that goes beyond rhetoric, by utilizing public infrastructures such as the Lido Gardens, Almirante Reis Garden, and the Funchal seafront bathing complexes, in this case, Barreirinha. In this way, the Funchal Municipality demonstrates its commitment to democratizing urban space as a stage for intercultural encounters,” concluded the councilwoman.
Conclusion
In summary, ‘Todas as Cores’ proved that it is possible to promote integration in a healthy and creative way, leveraging public spaces to unite people from different backgrounds.
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Not a great translation by AI. I apologise.
However, with only 100 People present from the foreign community, a very small step was taken with this inaugural event. Better than nothing, that’s all I can say really.
There was no advertising in the local press that I could find. Somehow I think it was aimed at uniting children, rather than a serious attempt towards integration of 7,000 immigrants.
Healing Madeira 