Announcement regarding Social Support Services (Apoio Social)

Dear network,

We wish to inform you that our Social Support services (Apoio Social) has been brought to a close following careful analysis and reflection. This decision became necessary in light of financial and structural challenges that prevented us from continuing the work with the quality and care that the project requires.

In 2025, we lost a significant funding source that covered the costs of Seja Sol and Apoio Social through the "Pétalas de Saúde" programme. In response, we launched a fundraising campaign and sought alternatives, including applications to other funding schemes. Unfortunately, however, we were unable to raise the necessary resources to maintain the project in a healthy and sustainable manner.

Supporting women in vulnerable situations requires conditions that ensure emotional, psychological, and legal safety for both the team and the women receiving support. Given our inability to guarantee these conditions, closing the project has become a responsible step, aligned with a broader internal restructuring process at Janainas e.V., with the aim of preserving the quality of our work and the wellbeing of our volunteers and staff, whilst avoiding burnout.

We are profoundly grateful to everyone who dedicated themselves to Apoio Social, particularly Teresa Bueno, the project's founder, and Ana Pires, as well as all the volunteers, professionals, partner organisations (Box66, Evas Arche, and Waschküche), and supporters who have been with us throughout these five years.

Teresa Bueno continues to offer support and guidance to Portuguese-speaking women at BOX66. Thus, the care that so many women found in Apoio Social remains alive.

We hope to resume our counselling and support services for migrant women once we have a more robust structure and adequate resources in place.

For now, we wish everyone: strength, courage, a fairer world, and a voice.

With gratitude,

Board of Directors and founders of Janainas e.V.