The Irma Celina Community Center gets a facelift: a renovated space to support vulnerable youth.
As part of its commitment to social cohesion and local community development, MAP has financed the complete refurbishment of the Irma Celina Community Center run by its partner association, Casa do Menor, a place dedicated to welcoming and supporting children and young people in vulnerable situations. The center, now modernized, offers a wide range of educational, cultural and recreational activities in a setting redesigned to promote inclusion and personal fulfillment. Thanks to the work carried out, it can now accommodate up to 90 young people simultaneously, aged from 6 to 24. Over the course of a day, 120 beneficiaries are expected to attend in rotation, with the possibility of including families in certain group activities, bringing the total number of direct beneficiaries to 360.
The rehabilitation work was carried out between September 9, 2024 and March 17, 2025. The project was delayed by 20 days due to unforeseen structural reinforcement, which has now been fully resolved. The project enabled the following main interventions to be carried out:
– Complete refurbishment of sanitary facilities and changing rooms: installation of new sanitary equipment, tiling, showers, metal partitions.
– Industrial kitchen: granite worktops, stainless steel sinks, non-slip floors, compliance with current health standards.
– Redevelopment of internal spaces: new paint, replacement of floors, secure access, more welcoming and functional atmosphere.
– Facades and exteriors: ceramic cladding, improved accessibility, brightly colored paint.
– Lighting systems and ceilings: installation of recessed LED luminaires, reinforced thermal and acoustic insulation.
– Roof: complete replacement of tiles, anti-corrosion treatment of framework, repositioning of gutters for better water drainage.
– Crack treatment: targeted structural interventions, waterproofing of the slab to ensure the building’s durability.
This renovation marks a new stage for the Centre Irma Celina, which becomes a genuine resource space for young people and their families. By creating a safe, accessible and stimulating environment, MAP is pursuing its mission of fostering autonomy, resilience and social inclusion in the areas it supports.
