Children’s charity ACCA has started its annual drive to ensure that youngsters across the Algarve can start the new school year with confidence … and with the basic essentials to help them achieve. And our help is needed!

Although the government here does provide text books for the poorest, it does not supply children with the simple, everyday materials that are also vital to support the learning process.

Every year, ACCA increases its back-to-school programme in an attempt to help as many children as possible – in 2016 the charity gave out 841 back packs, filled with those all-important essentials and this year hopes to beat that figure.

Here’s where you come in and can make a real difference…

ACCA needs the following for each student under 10:
A4 lined, squared and plain exercise books
1 A5 plain exercise book
Pencil case, scissors, colouring pencils and felt tip pens
30cm ruler, pencil sharpener, rubber, HB pencils, blue pens, glue stick

For children over 10, the above plus:
Recorder, set square and protractor set
Blue, black and red biros
A4 files, A4 paper with punched holes
Calculator, compass

For senior students, the above plus:
1 ream of plain paper
Post-it notes
Correctors
Pen drives, stapler, scientific calculator

If you can shop for any of the above and drop your purchases off at one of the points listed below, you will be really helping to make a difference. Or, if you prefer to let the charity have a direct donation, they will do the shopping and assemble the back packs (they can purchase these – and gym bags – for just €5 each)

You can order by emailing them on backtoschoolalgarve@gmail.com or by phoning (+351) 936 431 77

Drop off points
Almancil – Curiosa, Lewis Andrews, and Nobre Pharmacy

Albufeira – Iceland and Paws4pets

Armação de Pera – Holiday Inn Algarve

Silves – Castelo de Sonhos

Alcantarilha – The Golf Shack

Lagos – C.A.R.D.S and Moveison

ACCA is the Algarve-based charity dedicated to helping children in need across the region, was founded in 2000. Over the past two decades, ACCA has delivered life-saving, and life-changing, therapies and medical aid to disadvantaged youngsters who either live below the poverty line, or are orphaned and in care, or who require specialist treatment that is not available to them through Social Services.

ACCA was born out of a meeting between a group of friends who wanted to help organize a single event for a children’s charity back in 2000. Jane Oliphant, the founder, realized quite quickly that there were a lot more children across the Algarve that needed help. Plus, she and her friends had genuinely enjoyed dreaming up the event, creating interest and persuading as many people as possible to get involved. So they decided to form a more permanent team and to create ACCA (Associação de solidariedade com as Crianças Carenciadas do Algarve) supporting underprivileged children in the Algarve.

ACCA is now run by a small Committee who give their time, experience and enthusiasm freely to making the world a better place for these children. Thanks to their generous sponsors, donors, and volunteers they really can make a difference, and put smiles on young faces.

You can find out more by visiting their Facebook Page – just click the logo below or the link here to visit their page: