Português
Throughout the severe housing crisis, we face, which seems to have no end in sight, other problems associated with the spaces we use for living arise.
When we talk about housing, we also talk about support networks, neighborhood, and community. The bonds that should naturally arise from proximity and coexistence are no longer created. The elderly do not have a support network, often being closed off in the solitude of their homes. Spaces for children, culture, and socialization are not prioritized over real estate speculation. All this is taken away from the population, destroying, or not giving the opportunity to build, community, solidarity, and security.
Cultural and social spaces also suffer from the gentrification of cities, ending up unable to keep up with rent values and the consequent non-renewal of contracts. It is thanks to these spaces that meetings, conversations, and debates on different topics are possible. They welcome different collectives and associations. They are also spaces of culture, conviviality, and community creation.
At this moment in Lisbon, there is the case of Sirigaita, which resists an eviction order, and Disgraça, which anticipating what may happen in the future, decided to move forward with a plan to purchase its current space and thus ensure its autonomy in this jungle of real estate speculation.
We also witness in these times of celebration and struggle of April 25th and May 1st, the beautiful story of the Social and Cultural Center of Santa Engrácia, where life was given to a building closed for more than 15 years. With everyone’s participation, including the neighborhood’s, in just 7 days the space became functional, and it was possible to present daily programming with concerts, films, and talks, always with meals to serve the community. It took just 7 days until the eviction carried out by PSP (Public Security Police), to see a community being built in a building with 15 years without any social utility.
As deepening democracy and empowering people to act are two of the main goals of Citizenship Academy, it is with great concern that we see the difficulties and closure of spaces that provide for building strong, critical, and active communities.
Thus, Citizenship Academy intends to demonstrate its solidarity with Sirigaita, Disgraça, and the Social and Cultural Center of Santa Engrácia, as well as with all spaces, clubs, and associations that agonize without solutions to remain active. We ask all our members and followers that within your possibilities support the resistance of Sirigaita, Disgraça, and the Social and Cultural Center of Santa Engrácia.
Sirigaita (Resistance Fund)
Disgraça (Crowdfunding for purchasing space)
Social and Cultural Center of Santa Engrácia (Petition for space concession)
Citizenship Academy will continue to follow and share these cases and we are available to jointly seek ways to support these very necessary struggles.