Odiana teaches VRSA seniors to rediscover the art of basketry

As part of the European project CREA_digital, seniors from Baixo Guadiana rediscovered the art of basketry, in a creative workshop promoted by Odiana – Association for the Development of Baixo Guadiana .

In this sense, on July 3rd, the Old Santa Rita School, now the Cacela Heritage Research and Information Center ( CIIPC ), hosted a creative basketwork workshop that combined tradition, inclusion and cultural identity.

The activity, promoted by Odiana, took place within the scope of the European project CREA_Digital – Erasmus+ KA210-ADU, and had as its protagonist the artisan Diamantino Serafim Romeirinha, master in the art of working with sugarcane.

During an afternoon marked by sharing, 15 seniors from the local community watched, participated, and relived ancestral basketry techniques, from preparing the materials to creating the pieces.

The session was filmed by RTP, for the program «Europa à Porta», and was attended by the treasurer of Odiana and president of the Municipal Council of Vila Real de Santo António , Álvaro Araújo.

The activity is part of Work Package 3 – Crafts and Gastronomy: Digital and Creative Workshops, which aims to preserve traditional crafts, encourage the intergenerational sharing of knowledge and strengthen the self-esteem of senior adults, through meaningful and creative actions.

Diamantino, a master of his craft, brought a moment of reflection to the workshop on the importance of preserving the wisdom of the past. "It's never too late to learn; knowledge never ages," words that reinforced the project's purpose and his concern about the disappearance of these traditions.

In addition to the practical component, the workshop also included a social gathering, with snacks included, where stories, memories, and smiles were exchanged. A simple gesture, but one that reinforced the sense of community.

The CREA_Digital project, co-financed by the European Union's Erasmus+ Program, operates in rural areas of Baixo Guadiana (Portugal) and Els Ports (Valencia – Spain), promoting the digital and cultural inclusion of seniors with fewer opportunities, while rescuing and reinventing local traditions such as basketry, gastronomy and other ancient crafts.

With this initiative, Odiana reinforces its commitment to safeguarding intangible heritage and valuing the active role of seniors in building a more cohesive, participatory, and culturally rich Europe.