Salta-Pocinhas nursery to offer extended hours in Faro

The Salta-Pocinhas nursery, located in the Conceição parish of Faro, is nearing completion and is expected to open for the 2026/2027 academic year. Managed by the Association for the Protection of Girls and Families (AIPAR), it will be the first nursery in the Algarve region to offer extended hours, including nights and weekends. This service is specifically designed to support families working shifts, such as those employed at Faro Airport, the Algarve University Hospital Center, and the hospitality sector.

The facility will have a capacity for 42 children up to three years of age and will provide free spots through the ‘Creche Feliz’ program. The total project investment is 1.88 million euros. The Municipality of Faro has contributed 800,000 euros and provided the land. While AIPAR has raised 500,000 euros through private donors, the association still requires 580,000 euros to complete the funding without resorting to bank loans.

Filomena Rosa, president of AIPAR, emphasized that providing educational and social responses to children is a key method in combating poverty. The project comes amid data showing that 17.6 percent of children in Portugal live at risk of poverty, with limited access to childcare being a contributing factor.