JCRT’s research project, aimed to better understand and celebrate the Portuguese community in Jersey, was successfully launched at the Portuguese Food Festival last weekend.
Project Luso aims to:
- research daily life for Islanders with a Portuguese background and to document and raise awareness of the stories of the Portuguese community,
- understand and address the challenges for Portuguese members of the Jersey community,
- celebrate and promote Portuguese culture in Jersey and highlight the
- unique contribution Jersey’s Portuguese community makes to Island life.
Leading the project, our Vice-Chair Selina Zenonos, said:
“Despite a bumpy start with the weather, the soft launch of Project Luso got off to a great start, and where better to have begun than at the Portuguese Food Festival.
We had some wonderful conversations with the people at the festival who took the time to go through our short survey with us, and we have been delighted with the response over the weekend to the online survey.
This is a promising start, and we hope that with this material data we can begin to understand key issues affecting the Portuguese Jersey community. This data will also help to shape our focus groups that we aim to hold over the autumn and winter.
It means a great deal to us that people are sharing their experiences and thoughts. We’re also very grateful to all the volunteers, with special thanks to Jersey Youth Service for hosting us under their marquee and all their support; and to artist Kelly Eastwood whose tile painting project brought a flourish of creativity and colour to the day.”
The Project Luso research team will continue to publicise the research project. Leaflets with information in both English and Portuguese will be available in local cafes and bakeries.
The research team also plan to hold several, smaller community events to engage with more people and encourage further survey responses.
Have your say
Islanders with a Portuguese background are still being invited to complete the survey.
If you would like to participate in our confidential focus groups, please email us at [email protected]
Learn more about Project Luso.