HAPPY FREEDOM DAY amigos!
As we near the end of South Africa’s Covid-19 lockdown, we would just like to let all our members know that we have had you all in our thoughts and prayers, this crazy time has been a very special yet strange opportunity to reconnect with family and appreciate the times when we didn’t have to practice “Social Distancing”.
Although, the lockdown has dampened our plans in 2020 as set out below, we will communicate with you all on the way forward when things become clearer.
The safety of our community is of utmost importance, so we will wait for the call to come out again to continue with the plans. Following an update by our President, Cyril Ramaphosa, on the COVID-19 lockdown, it was decided that beyond Thursday, 30th April 2020, South Africa will gradually phase out of the country’s lockdown based on five-phases.
For ease of reference, the levels of alert are defined as per the below table:
| Level 5 | Drastic measures are required to contain the spread of the virus to save lives. |
| Level 4 | Some activity can be allowed to resume subject to extreme precautions required to limit community transmission and outbreaks |
| Level 3 | Easing of some restrictions, including on work and social activities, to address a high risk of transmission. |
| Level 2 | Further easing of restrictions, but the maintenance of physical distancing and restrictions on some leisure and social activities to prevent a resurgence of the virus. |
| Level 1 | Most normal activity can resume, with precautions and health guidelines followed at all times. |
Report back from YAPS AGM 2020
Thanks to Voz Portuguesa for attending and their full page article on us below!
Young Adult Portuguese Society (YAPS) held its Annual General Meeting last week Thursday at the Consulado-Geral de Portugal – Joanesburgo.
Guest Speaker for the evening, in a TED Talk setting, was Portuguese/Spanish Pop Artist born and raised in South Africa, former soccer, Miguel Pregueiro. Discussing the importance of a healthy mindset in reaching for the impossible, Pregueiro’s talk left the YAPS executive committee confident that they could face any challenges which lay ahead.
The new executive committee for 2020 was elected at the AGM. They are Ricardo de Freitas (Chair); Nelson Cabanita (Vice-Chair); Claudio de Sousa (Treasurer); Dominic Pais (Head of Outreach); Micaela de Freitas (Social Media Representative); Antonella Giuricich (Social Media Representative); Roger Cabanita and Roberto Sumares.
YAPS is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Starting out as a social cultural group of 11 close family friends in 2008, YAPS caters to the cultural, educational and social development and strengthening of the Portuguese culture among the South African community. Our roots are in Portugal, but our branches stretch throughout South Africa.
Our work and events focus on three main pillars:
- Educational
- We organise Portuguese lessons at the Wanderers Club, Illovo, every Tuesday at 7pm for R100 every 2-hour lesson – we would like to expand this to Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban – Please contact us if you are interested.
- We organise an annual Youth Leadership Summit for high school and university students called JuÍzo na Cabeça focussed on career and soft skills development.
- Charity
- Fundraiser events for charities
- Annual Charity Soccer Tournament
- Social
- Viewings when Portugal’s national soccer team plays matches
- Portuguese socials
YAPS is interested in broadening its scope by brining portuguese youth together in other cities around South Africa and would like to start partnerships in Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria. Please contact us if you are interested in joining.
If you would like to join YAPS, please visit any of our social media platforms or our website yaps.co.za for more information about how to register and get involved.
A big thank you to the Consulate General and the consulate staff Adalberta Coimbra and Manuela Fonseca for hosting the event; Miguel Pregueiro for sharing his insights and everyone who joined us on the evening.
Thank you also to those who continue to support the portuguese youth, we especially appreciate the support from the SA Portuguese Chamber of Commerce (SAPCC) and the Academia do Bacalhau.
We are still looking forward to an exciting 2020.
STAY SAFE YAPSTERS
