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Casa Velha, a Corner of Peace, Inclusion, and Hope

Located in the serene countryside of Portugal, just a short distance from Fátima, Casa Velha is a space where the rhythms of nature, the warmth of human connection, and the quiet power of contemplation come together. Casa Velha – literally ‘Old House’ – is more than its name suggests. It is a space of encounter, where peace, inclusion, and ecological harmony are not abstract ideals but lived realities.

Connected to the Land and the Spirit
Surrounded by nature, Casa Velha offers an environment that invites reflection and grounding. But it is not just the beauty of the landscape that makes this place so unique. Since its founding, Casa Velha has been guided by a commitment to caring for the environment and for people. Inspired by Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’, it offers programs that integrate environmental awareness, social justice, and inner transformation.
Here, caring for the Earth is part of everyday life. The rhythms of Casa Velha encourage participants to cultivate both the land and the spirit.

A Home for All
In a world marked by growing division and exclusion, Casa Velha’s doors are always open – to individuals seeking silence and retreat, young people engaging in environmental education, or anyone searching for connection and community.
One of its most powerful qualities is its commitment to inclusion. Casa Velha works with organizations that support refugees, people with disabilities, and others facing social vulnerability. Everyone is not only welcomed, but also heard, valued, and invited to participate in community life. Meals are shared around a common table, work is done side by side, and stories are exchanged. As such, mutual learning and healing emerge naturally.

A Pedagogy of Hope
Casa Velha is also a place of learning. It fosters ecological literacy, community engagement, and spiritual exploration. It opens space for questions – not only academic or technical, but existential ones, about how we live and what kind of world we are creating.
What makes Casa Velha’s approach unique is not only what it teaches, but how it teaches – through presence, listening, and shared experience. It invites each person to become an agent of change, grounded in compassion and a sense of belonging to the Earth and to others.

In a time of climate crisis, rising inequality, and violent conflict, Casa Velha stands as a quiet but powerful example of what becomes possible when people come together with vision and care. It is truly a corner of peace, inclusion, and hope. Our visit lasted only 24 hours, but Casa Velha leaves a lasting impression. It reminds us that another way of living is not only necessary – it is possible.

Lucie Calléja
Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Institute for Political Studies
lucie.calleja@ucp.pt


OpenEdition sugere que esta publicação seja citada da seguinte forma:
Lucie Calléja (26 de Junho de 2025). Casa Velha, a Corner of Peace, Inclusion, and Hope. Desenvolvimento Humano Integral. Recuperado em 15 de Novembro de 2025 de https://doi.org/10.58079/147xr


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