Summer 2002

In the summer of 2002 English Freemasons throughout the UK and its branches overseas will organise events to demonstrate how freemasonry is actively involved with good causes in the community. Over 8,000 lodges worldwide, with the support of 330,000 members, will take part.

Teaching programmes

In Portugal the English lodges will spearhead their participation in this by providing teaching programmes, to be used by teachers in the English-speaking schools in Portugal, to raise drug awareness and develop the lifeskills of the children in their schools.

The RIDE Foundation

The programmes have been constructed by professional teachers working with RIDE, a non-profit making charity, registered number 1068394 in England. They are written in English, to national guidelines, endorsed by OFSTED and local Education Authorities, approved by Police Forces, and are running successfully in five English counties and three London boroughs. American schools in Cobham and Egham (England) are strong supporters. In Portugal English freemasons will raise money for copies of the RIDE programmes, make them available free of cost to English speaking schools, and organise in-service training to help teachers get the most out of the material. The British Embassy is strongly supportive of this initiative and a member of their staff will help with the Teaching Workshops.

Three flexible programmes are available, suitable for three different age groups and are listed on the right.

Workbooks

Each child has his/her own Workbook, which they take home to discuss with their parents, after each part of the programme. On completing each module a RIDE certificate is awarded, bearing the childs name and the logo of the school attended.

Freemasory Funding

English freemasons in Portugal will initially guarantee the funding for three years, after which they will either continue, or assist in finding another sponsor. ONCE ESTABLISHED THE WORK IS TOO IMPORTANT TO LET DROP. Just one child saved from the hell of drugs will make it worthwhile.

Teaching Workshops for the teachers will be held in Estoril and the Algarve in March 2002, with the teaching programmes following in the various schools during the summer.

Richard Beardsley,
Grand Inspector, Portugal