Our projects

Dona Ajuda’s Environmental and Cultural Space is also located at Rua Alexandre Herculano 64, in the former Mercado do Rato, in Lisbon. It is a dynamic and multifunctional area that combines artistic and environmental initiatives, promoting creativity and sustainability. This space celebrates the circular economy, reuse, and the recognition of creative talents, creating an environment where culture and ecology coexist harmoniously.

Bookstore

The bookstore is dedicated to reuse and access to literature. It brings together thousands of donated books, including fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, cookbooks, technical books, and more, giving them a second life.

In addition to offering books for purchase through extraordinarily affordable donations, the bookstore also makes significant donations to school libraries in Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP), prisons, and socio-cultural associations supported by Dona Ajuda.

Storytime

Once a month, Dona Ajuda hosts students from primary schools for a special moment: Storytime. In this activity, children gather for a lively reading of a story, presented in a fun and interactive way by a volunteer expert in this area.

This event promotes a love of reading, stimulates imagination, and strengthens the bond between the community and Dona Ajuda from an early age. In addition to encouraging the habit of reading, Storytime becomes a space for sharing stories, values, and lessons, creating lasting memories for all participants.

Would you like to bring your school to Storytime? Contact us at geral@donaajuda.pt

Luís Vilaça Literary Award

The Luís Vilaça Literary Award is an annual initiative by Dona Ajuda, dedicated to promoting and supporting emerging authors in the literary genre of short stories. Created with the goal of valuing contemporary Portuguese literature, the award selects the ten best short stories, which are gathered and published in an author’s edition. The cover and illustrations of the book are created each year by Portuguese creators, offering readers a unique and visually enriched work.

The award ceremony takes place at Dona Ajuda’s Environmental and Cultural Space.

In addition to boosting new literary talents, the Luís Vilaça Literary Award contributes to the preservation and promotion of a literary genre often undervalued, and represents a milestone in the promotion of culture and literature in Portugal.

Would you like to participate in the Luís Vilaça Literary Award? Contact us at geral@donaajuda.pt

CDs, DVDs, Vinyls, and Cassettes

At Dona Ajuda, the selection of CDs, DVDs, vinyls, and cassettes is vast and diverse, catering to all musical and cinematic tastes and preferences. From timeless classics that have marked generations to surprising discoveries of lesser-known artists, each item tells a unique story. Whether for collectors or those seeking a new experience, there is an opportunity to explore different worlds for a very affordable donation value.

Artist Residencies

The cultural side of Dona Ajuda offers space for artist residencies, allowing creators and artists to develop their works in publicly visible spaces, promoting creative interactions with visitors and other ongoing projects. During the residency period, artists have the opportunity to explore their art, create new collaborations, and share their works with the community.

Would you like to do an artist residency at Dona Ajuda? Contact us at geral@donaajuda.pt

Sewing Workshop

In the sewing workshop, donated clothing is transformed into an exclusive line by Dona Ajuda, focusing on customization and reuse.

This space also hosts the Dress a Girl project, which creates dresses for girls and shorts for boys to be donated to children in underserved countries, bringing them dignity, protection, and hope.

DA Mercado Aberto

Twice a month, the Environmental and Cultural Space hosts DA Mercado Aberto, an event that gives a platform to artists, creators, and entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their work. During these afternoons, which take place biweekly, part of the space transforms into a vibrant area, offering a unique experience of art, creativity, and sharing between the community and the artists featured in each edition.

Would you like to participate with your art in DA Mercado Aberto? Contact us at geral@donaajuda.pt

The Dona Ajuda Canta Choir

Music also takes center stage in the Environmental and Cultural Space. The community choir “Dona Ajuda Canta” brings together volunteers, users, and community members around a diverse repertoire, promoting inclusion and well-being through musical art.

It officially started in October 2024. This project is another example of how Dona Ajuda brings together culture, solidarity, and the local community, creating bonds and unforgettable moments for everyone involved.

Would you like to join the Dona Ajuda Canta Choir? Contact us at geral@donaajuda.pt

Charity Auction

Twice a year, Dona Ajuda organizes a Charity Auction, a special event that brings together unique, curious, and valuable donations. Items of great interest, such as antiques, artworks, collectible items, and sophisticated pieces, are carefully selected and put up for auction.

These auctions not only provide an opportunity to acquire exclusive items but also to contribute to a greater cause, as all proceeds go towards supporting social projects and meeting the needs of the families and institutions supported by Dona Ajuda.

The auctions take place in the Environmental and Cultural Space.

Central Area

The heart of the Environmental and Cultural Space is flexible, adaptable to different purposes such as concerts, artistic performances, special sales, wardrobe sales, training workshops, exhibitions, community events, corporate team-building activities, or private events.

Whether it’s for a jam session, an art workshop, or a São Martinho chestnut party, this space hosts initiatives that inspire creativity and strengthen the connection between culture and sustainability.

Would you like to host an event at Dona Ajuda’s Environmental and Cultural Space? Contact us at geral@donaajuda.pt

Jardim das Artes

The Jardim das Artes (Garden of Arts) began in 2018 and is an annual initiative where Dona Ajuda organizes and promotes an exhibition of visual artists in the Jardim das Amoreiras. It welcomes all visual artists who wish to showcase (and sell) their works while experiencing an enriching and inclusive environment. It is especially aimed at art schools, young national or international artists, beginners and veterans, neighbors or non-neighbors.

The main objective of the Jardim das Artes is to create a meeting point between artists and their art, and a vibrant community of neighbors and non-neighbors, who enthusiastically and increasingly participate in this initiative each year.

Painting, drawing, photography, jewelry, sculpture, collages, and mixed techniques are some of the disciplines found in the Jardim das Artes.

To participate in the Jardim das Artes, simply follow Dona Ajuda’s Instagram account, where the opening of registrations is announced, along with the sharing of the regulations.