Powering a new future

I asked Ana Vale, the event coordinator and Head of EQUAL Managing Authority, Portugal how she feels now that everything’s finished.

She looked as happy and tired as she said she was. “I’m very happy. It went well. I’m relieved it’s over. it was very intense, full of stress, very gratifying. The atmosphere between people was very interesting; it was creative and there was a lot of happiness… it’s something not to forget.

“And now I’m going to rest.”

Ana Vale on Powering a New Future

In a pause between meetings I asked Ana Vale, the manager of EQUAL managing authority in Portugal, how the organisations are getting along for the big event - Powering a New Future. They are expecting up to 3,000 people over the three days in December so you can imagine what must be happening behind the scenes.

“A lot of work and a lot of enthusiasm…” was her reply.

She says that the point of this event is to show what projects in EQUAL and ESF (European Social Fund) have being doing over the last eight years.

Above all, she hopes that people will be inspired by the stories of getting people who suffer discrimination of any kind back into the workforce. Presenters are coming from Portugal, other countries in Europe as well as India and South America.

It will also be a time for networking and meeting people who could one day be project partners.

Click on the video to watch the whole interview.