CLARA

Collaborative workspace for rural development in Portugal.

Investment overview

Impact category

Social economy

Investment type

Loan

Yearly interest

5.2

Term

months

Risk level

C+

While Odemira is the municipality with the largest territory in Portugal, its interior has one of the lowest population densities in Europe. The CLARA project aims to reverse these negative trends, through the restoration and reconstruction of a brick factory, which previously acted as an anchor for economic and social activity in the area. The aim of the project is to give back to the population of the Alentejo region, where Odemira is located, transforming a derelict factory that once served as an economic and social anchor for the region into a Centre for Rural Future. CLARA is a collaborative workspace for research, training and innovation, promoting a creative environment where people live and work together for a specified period of time, stimulating the debate on local issues and encouraging the commitment of all involved. The loan will allow CLARA to turn this project into a reality. Also, it is backed by a co-financing contract from 'Turismo de Portugal', which is committed to refunding CLARA 50% of their expenses. In the first construction phase, it is necessary to install infrastructures and equipment to accommodate residents. The construction of the equipment is an architectural project and construction of the Collective Warehouse for CLARA. Partners of the project are Sustainable Construction Portal and the Circular Economy Portugal.

What is the impact?

Direct:

CLARA’s vision bridges the gap between urban and rural areas, creating shared values.
Promotes dialogue, experimentation, research, innovation, and knowledge transfer.
Challenges patterns of thinking and behavior.
Explores contemporary solutions for revitalizing low-density regions.
Integrates, involves, and empowers the local community.
Develops the Odemira region, attracting people and creating job opportunities.
Restores ecosystems and investigates/promotes the region's full potential.
Expands cultural offerings and improves local living conditions.
Supports artists and designers.
Transforms a derelict brick factory into a Centre for Rural Future.
Hosts activities promoting eco-living, cultural activism, and ethical tourism.
Uses sustainable materials, processes, and techniques in the rehabilitation process.
Hot water is supplied by a solar system.
Food supplies are organic and preferably bought from local producers.

Indirect:

Attracts more visitors, new residents, talent, and investments to the region.
Enhances local community skills, perspectives, and traditions.

Impact indicators
‍

hectars

of sustainable water and land management

people

impacted

Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
‍

About the Promoter

About

Project Earth - Valorização Sustentável de Regiões de Convergência

In 2008, after having discovered an old abandoned factory in Alentejo and realising its full potential, Diogo and Mariana bought the complex. Together, with a group of people who shared their thoughts, concerns and ideas, they created Project Earth - Associação para a Valorização Sustentável de Regiões de Convergência, a non-profit association, with the purpose of finding strategies to combat the social and economic problems deteriorating the region (a similar situation to what was happening in other rural areas in Portugal) making it attractive to future generations again by developing the potential of the factory. Project Earth quickly attracted a growing group of artists, designers, architects, psychologists, researchers and thinkers from Portugal who face the challenge of transforming rural areas. A month after it was founded, the Portuguese Ministry of Culture recognised Project Earth as an Association of Cultural Interest.

Promoter website

https://claralab.org/home

Business Model
‍

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.