On 23 July, the Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat to the Portuguese Republic, Nazim Ahmad, and the Chairman of National Committee of AKF Portugal, Mohamed Azzim Gulamhussen, had the pleasure of receiving the President of the Portuguese Republic, His Excellency Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho, at the premises of the Centro Infantil dos Olivais Sul.

The purpose of this visit was to present the results and successes achieved during the last 15 years in which the Aga Khan Foundation has been responsible for running the Centre, as well as to celebrate its impact on the wider national panorama of Early Childhood Education.

In 2009, the Aga Khan Foundation took over the management of the Olivais Sul Children's Centre through a partnership agreement with the Social Security Institute, with the main objective of developing and testing pedagogies and methodologies for approaching early childhood education over several years that could have a positive impact on the beneficiaries of the Children's Centre - children and families - the workers and the wider community, as well as other educational institutions.

To develop the quality of its educational responses, the Centre adopts a participatory pedagogy - Pedagogy-in-Participation - which promotes equity and the inclusion of all diversities, prioritising education for pluralism as a path to success for all children. At the Centre, these principles are present in the daily lives of children, families, professionals and the community, making it an integrated centre with an ecological and holistic perspective.

Over the years, the Centre has provided educational services such as daycare, family daycare and preschool education. Until now, it has served 2,500 children aged between 4 months and 6 years and 2,310 families.

The Olivais Sul Children's Centre allows the Foundation and all its partners to present themselves on a daily basis as a learning organisation and a knowledge platform for many, with the aim of contributing to the quality of life of the people and communities of Olivais Sul and all the others we reach through a variety of programmes and partners.

Learn more hear about the Aga Khan Foundation work in Portugal at.