On 4 July, the Ponta D’Água community hosted the second edition of Kumunidadi Fest, an event that once again brought the community together in an atmosphere of celebration, learning and community-building.
The initiative was organised by CUFA Cabo Verde and the Macanã Association, in partnership with the Institute of Educational Sciences (ICE – Portugal), CUFA Spain, through the Freestyle People project, WeCare, the Social Development Hub, the Comunidade365 programme, Acarinhar and the Cape Verdean Olympic Committee.
The main aim of this edition was to promote exchange between the student volunteers from ICE in Portugal and the young athletes from the Macanã Association. Following a week of training in youth leadership, community work and volunteering, the participants took an active role in organising and running all the festival’s activities.
The programme began with the traditional Open Discussion, dedicated to the theme “The Role of Women in the Development of Cape Verdean Society”. The debate brought together the Godmothers of the Cape Verde Favelas Cup, representatives of civil society organisations, community leaders and members of the community, encouraging reflection on women’s contribution to the country’s social and community development.
At the same time, the Cape Verde Favelas Cup Under-17 girls’ competition took place, providing moments of great enthusiasm and fair play. The Achada Grande Frente team won this year’s title. The teams from Ponta D’Água (Maracanã), Achada Grande Trás (Escola EFAT) and Santiago Norte (Portas Abertas) finished in 2nd, 3rd and 4th places, respectively.
During the afternoon, the Kumunidadi Fest turned into a true festival of sport and inclusion, offering activities for all ages. Capoeira, volleyball, basketball, teqball, boxing and other sports took place alongside painting workshops run by Acarinhar, encouraging creativity and participation among children and families.
The closing ceremony featured a freestyle show organised by the Freestyle People project, which also included performances by the Batucadeiras Força na Tradição, the musical group Renascer, the Capoeira group and the dancer Naoka from the Kontornu Festival, providing a moment to celebrate local culture and talent.
The Kumunidadi Fest drew to a close with an awards ceremony and a tribute to all the athletes, volunteers, partners and participants who contributed to the success of this second edition, reinforcing the collective commitment to stronger, more inclusive and more participatory communities.
