Yesterday, September 24th, the public presentation of the results of the 25-year evaluation of the Escolhas Program took place in the IPDJ auditorium in Moscavide
Before a packed auditorium, which included government representatives, public bodies, representatives of Escolhas projects, professionals in the field of local development, researchers and other stakeholders, the main results, conclusions and recommendations of the evaluation, developed by the CoLABOR team, were presented.
The session also included the screening of a video that gives voice to 30 current and former participants of Escolhas projects, seeking to portray, through their life stories and testimonies, the impact of the Program on their journeys.
The "Choices in Perspective" Forum, led by Paula Tavares, founder of the Afrolink network, was one of the highlights of the session, giving voice to current and former participants in Choices projects, as well as technicians and partners involved in the Program, in a space for reflection and sharing of firsthand experiences.
The intervention by Teresa Martins, from the Aga Khan Foundation, allowed for the systematization of some of the main reflections raised during the meeting.
The closing remarks, delivered by the Deputy Secretary of State for Youth and Equality, Carla Rodrigues, provided an overview of the government's perspective on the importance of the Program, as well as some clues for its future.
The session marked the conclusion of a year's work developed by the CoLABOR team, within the scope of the evaluation initiatives of the Thematic Program Demography, Qualifications and Inclusion – People 2030, integrated into Portugal 2030, and constitutes an example of how research and knowledge production can contribute to the analysis, evaluation and definition of evidence-based public policies, bringing scientific knowledge closer to public decision-making and action.
If you were unable to attend the event, you can view the recording on the CoLABOR YouTube channel.
You can consult the results of the 25-year evaluation of the Escolhas Program, a national government public policy integrated, since 2023, into the IPDJ - Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth, IP: