On 22 July, around 200 pre-school and primary school children from the municipality’s three school groups, who are taking part in the summer activities promoted by the municipality, took part in two “Raposa Chama” project initiatives, held in Baião and Santa Marinha do Zêzere.
These actions, which are part of the national “Portugal Chama” campaign, aim to alert young people to risky behaviour, make them aware of the importance of the forest and preventing rural fires, and are based on the premise that children can now play a crucial role in raising awareness among adults, especially through their family network.
For the vice-president and councillor for Civil Protection, Filipe Fonseca, who attended one of the sessions, “it’s fundamental that we involve our children in these issues from an early age. Risk education and making young people aware of the importance of fire prevention and protecting our forests is a priority that must be shared by everyone. These initiatives are important steps towards ensuring a more aware, more responsible and safer future for everyone,” he said.
During the activities, the children were captivated by the presence of two of Banda da Floresta’s “ambassadors” – Chama the Fox and McGarra the Cicada – who played a key role in sensitising the students to the cause of preserving the forest and preventing rural fires. These characters made the event more interactive and educational, helping the children to easily grasp the main message: “You can’t play with fire”.
These initiatives were organised by AGIF (Agency for the Integrated Management of Rural Fires) in close coordination and collaboration with the Civil Protection Office and the Education Sector of Baião Municipal Council, which demonstrates the importance of concerted actions between various entities in achieving the common goal of promoting a culture of safety and forest protection.
