The Municipality of Castro Marim has already delivered about five dozen Boxes of Affections to newborns in the municipality, an initiative integrated in the measures to support birth rates that also includes a financial incentive of 500 euros per baby, a value that rises to one thousand euros in the case of children from families with lower incomes. The last three boxes were delivered on Friday, August 21, during a symbolic moment held at the Social Action Office of the municipality.
The initiative integrates the New Social Action Regulation of the Municipality of Castro Marim and the program "Castro Marim Cuida de Si", seeking not only to support families in the first times of their children's lives, but also to strengthen the bond of new generations with the territory. Inspired by the Finnish model, the Box of Affections brings together various essential goods for the first days of the newborn, accompanied by elements that seek to represent the identity and local resources.
Each box includes illustrations related to the territory, various articles for the first times of life and a card from Stork São and Amingos, characters created specifically to give a face to the project. The focus on local production is another characteristic of the initiative, with articles produced by artisans and producers in the municipality, namely pieces related to salt, weaving, soaps and embroidery.
The council presents the Box of Affections as a gesture of welcome to the new inhabitants of Castro Marim, seeking to create from the first days a connection between the babies and the community where they were born. The financial support of 500 euros for all newborns and one thousand euros for children in family units with lower incomes complements this measure to encourage birth rates.
