The JCRT is proud to launch Project Luso, a research initiative to study, explore and celebrate Portuguese daily life and culture.
The JCRT aims to eliminate discrimination on any ground, promote good relations between all members of society and advocate for the equality of treatment and opportunity of marginalised and underrepresented communities working and living in Jersey.
We believe that one of the most effective ways to do this is to connect, communicate and better understand the challenges facing the community, as well as celebrate the positive impact the Jersey-Portuguese community has had on the Island.
Through our research we aim to better understand the challenges that face the Portuguese community in Jersey; to raise awareness; and create meaningful relationships and pathways.
Project Luso was independently set up to:
- Work with the Portuguese community in Jersey to create events that celebrate and showcase Portuguese culture, history and heritage, for all islanders to enjoy.
- Raise awareness of the stories the Portuguese community want to share about coming to Jersey and daily life on island and keep a record of those stories for future generations.
- Ask about the challenges of life in Jersey for Portuguese members of the island community, and where possible, and seek to address some of those challenges.
- Support the Portuguese community in Jersey and facilitate integration in Jersey.
The 2021 Jersey census reported approximately 8,000 Jersey residents born in Portugal and 9,700 identifying as ethnically Portuguese. Informal estimates, however, suggest there are approximately 16,000 Portuguese speakers, highlighting a significant cultural presence in the Island.
We aim to look further into the history of Portuguese migration and settlement in Jersey. Equally, we aim to better understand the challenges and barriers the Portuguese community has faced in relation to equality, integration and social cohesion, and to highlight the unique contribution Jersey’s Portuguese community makes to island life.
Portuguese Food Festival at People’s Park:
Thursday 22 August – Monday 26 August 2024.
We are excited to announce that the Project Luso Team will have a presence at the Portuguese Food Festival at People’s Park on Saturday 24 August.
Over the course of the day, local artist Kelly Eastwood will be leading a Portuguese Tile art activity for visitors to the marquee. The tiles will provide a blank slate for people to design and to express themselves, while thinking about Portuguese culture and following some questions that JCRT volunteers and the wider Project Luso Research Team will facilitate. In pulling on the rich and vibrant visual history of Portugal’s characteristic ceramics, we hope to transport visitors, facilitate connection and thought and to inspire creativity.
Islanders with a Portuguese background will also be invited to take part in our research and answer a short survey.
We are excited to be part of this annual cultural celebration and hope to speak to as many people to help document life in Jersey. This will help shape our future conversations, events and celebrations, as well as directly inform our research.
The Project Luso Research Team will be based at the Jersey Youth Service Marquee on Saturday 24th August only at the Portuguese Food Festival that is taking place at People’s Park, St Helier on 22-26 August.
Project Luso Research Survey
We would like to invite anyone in Jersey with Portuguese heritage to complete a short survey to help us understand and better serve their community here in Jersey. The survey can be found on our website: [link coming soon].
Hard copies of the survey will be available at the Portuguese Food Festival at People’s Park on Saturday 24th August.
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