APIA History

APIA has occupied since 1975 an old building in no. 35 of Calçada da Ajuda, developing its activities in the valences kindergarten, preschool and leisure activities. Its beginning was troubled, and the process of legalization of the Institution was only carried out in 1983, thus acquiring the status of IPSS (Private Institution of Social Solidarity), while trying to resolve the dispute with the owners of the occupied building, with APIA being subject to several eviction threats.

In 1985, a protocol was established between the Lisbon City Council (CML) and the owners, agreeing not to execute the eviction order on APIA and to build a building for it, and it was up to the Chamber and owners to study forms of capital gains in relation to construction costs. With the passage of the property to new owners, they understood to establish a new agreement with the City Council in order to execute the construction work on the city's premises, which, with the agreement of the Chamber and APIA, would be located on the Travessa da Memória, near the building of the Olympic Committee. Numerous meetings were held with the interested parties to evaluate the construction project of the new school and to plan deadlines for its accomplishment, which was never implemented.

On July 8, 2002, APIA is once again faced with an eviction order which, after many efforts undertaken with CML, could overcome. Following these events, an agreement was signed on September 19, 2002, between APIA and CML, in which CML undertakes to make available within ten months from the date of signature an adequate space for the School, which would assume the respective management in terms of protocol to be celebrated between both.
With the joining of efforts to find a space suitable for the operation of APIA, the Lisbon City Council, in the person of Dr. Maria João Lopo de Carvalho, and the Parish Council of Ajuda, by its President Mr. Joaquim Granadeiro, have raised many possibilities for their reinstallation.

Thus, we reached the space of Largo da Ajuda no. 1 and 2, which was in an advanced state of degradation, but presenting good possibilities of remodeling and recovery so APIA could operate there.

After several talks, a municipal space concession protocol was drawn up on May 2, 2003, and the construction and recovery of the old building began immediately.

On September 6, 2004, APIA changes to the new equipment, with the educational responses of kindergarten and preschool, but it was not yet feasible to transfer the areas of nursery and leisure activities. In the 2005/2006 school year, the nursery is fully integrated in this space, and leisure activities continue to operate at the Alexandre Herculano School of Education, no 19.

On September 4, 2006, another academic year began, this time with changes in the valence level of leisure activities. The new configuration of the educational and family support component, made by school groups, associations of parents and local authorities, made the attempt by APIA to maintain this validity unfeasible.

Therefore, the 2006/2007 school year begins with nursery, kindergaten and preschool responses seeking to maintain the quality of care for families, with a universe of approximately 120 children.

This framework was maintained until the 2009/2010 school year, with a request to extend the response to preschool to another room by July 2009. After due diligence, the former DREL issued an authorization in the preschool area for 90 children.

Today, APIA has nursery, kindergaten and preschool groups, responds to about 120 children between the ages of 4 months and 6 years and about 25 employees, including educators, auxiliaries, administrative staff, general services and kitchen.

It also counts on the voluntary collaboration of the five members of the board of directors, the three members of the fiscal council and four members of the general assembly.

APIA has a structure that has been growing over the years but has always maintained a common mission.