“It was all for the good of the neighborhood” – SAAL in Tavira and Community Construction

"Tavira and Cabanas were the site of two SAAL (Local Ambulatory Support Service) operations carried out in the Algarve after April 25, 1974. This pioneering process sought to respond to the needs and desires of poorly housed populations in the construction of their own homes. Residents' Associations played a central role in the initiative to promote the neighborhood, in choosing the site, participating in the project, managing the construction, and distributing the houses. “It was all for the good of the neighborhood,” as one of the residents recalls. The exhibition portrays the SAAL operations “May 1st of Tavira” and “United Friends of Cabanas,” based on the fundamental contribution of the people involved in their inception, development, and realization. It also reflects on the importance of their legacy today, considering the issue of housing and the right to the city."