KORALE community rail third stop: LISBON
On the 27th of May 2025, the third study visit ‘KORALE Meeting | Lisboa Com Vida’ was held in Lisbon, hosted by Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (SCML). It aimed to showcase the efforts of KORALE partners, strengthen the dialogue on social cohesion within Europe and contribute to the development of a European Guide to Public Policies on loneliness, which will be released upon project completion.
The meeting commenced with welcome addresses by Rita Prates, Vice Provost of SCML, and Sofia Athayde, Councilor for Social Rights of the Lisbon City Council. Their speeches emphasized the importance of fostering social cohesion and strengthening local community ties through targeted interventions.
Panel Discussion “Isolation and Unwanted Loneliness”
A central component of the event was the expert panel discussion, entitled “Isolation and Unwanted Loneliness,” moderated by David Lopes (SCML).
The panelists included:
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Helena Canhão (Nova Medical School)
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Marta Marques (Relational Lab)
Spotlight: Lisbon’s RADAR Project
Another significant part of the program was the presentation of the innovative Radar Project, introduced by Miguel Soares (Lisbon City Council) and Mário Rui André (SCML). The project identifies and supports residents aged 65 and above in Lisbon through a collaborative, neighborhood-based system aimed at strengthening social cohesion and resilience.
European Exchange of Good Practices
The project partners of KORALE exchanged examples of good practices from their own countries.
ADINBERRI - Basque Country/Spain, Social City Vienna - Austria, Santa Casa de Misericórdia of Lisboa - Portugal, Fingal County Council - Ireland , Municipality of Aalst - Belgium, Central Denmark Region - Denmark
The presentations demonstrated multidisciplinary and locally tailored strategies to address loneliness, emphasizing the importance of transnational collaboration and shared learning among the KORALE consortium.
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San Sebastian (Spain)
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Predictive Teleassistance AYESA; Patricia Garcia
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Aalst (Belgium)
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Inspiratiegids eenzaamheid 'Inspirational guide on loneliness'; Liesbeth Coppin
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Buurbel 'Neighbor Bell'; Anais Debraeckelaer
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Central Denmark Region (Denmark)
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Ventilen - Reducing loneliness among young people; Simone Bodholdt
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Fingal County Council Ireland (Ireland)
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Collaborations across the Generations - from intergenerational projects to intergenerational practice; Cathrina Murphy
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Welcome Room; Linda Ennis
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Social City Vienna (Austria)
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Platform Against Loneliness in Austria; Katrin Weber
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Office Senior Citizen Representative / Month of the Seniors; Marion Schartmüller
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Lisbon (Portugal)
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Senior University of Lumiar; José Guerreiro
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Une-Idades Project; Leonor Serzedelo
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Live Better in Beato; Amandine Bouillet
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The discussion during the event highlighted the crucial importance of urban strategies and neighborhood-centered initiatives for creating socially connected and resilient communities.
In her closing remarks, Angela Guerra, Administrator at SCML, reaffirmed the importance of placing loneliness high on the social and political agenda. The event concluded with a shared understanding: loneliness is a complex, multi-dimensional issue that demands a long-term, preventive approach rooted in community engagement and cross-sector collaboration.
Watch the full event here: https://www.youtube.com/live/jjoJLdHr3ao
Beyond the Meeting: Immersive Study Visit
Following the main event, the KORALE consortium explored innovative local initiatives, including Talento 55+ at Casa do Impacto & Centro Intergeracional Bairro Padre Cruz
Participants also had the opportunity to connect with Lisbon’s rich cultural heritage through visits to the MUDE Design Museum, Casa Ásia – Coleção Francisco Capelo, and the Church of São Roque.