We currently have 6 beds available in our shelter. Need help? Email us at hello@wearecomadres.org or call +351 961 685 623 M-F 10H-17H

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A Protected Place For A Woman to Rest, Heal & Transform

Casula (noun)

A cozy bedroom with a stone wall and a wooden headboard niche. The bed has a patterned duvet and pillows, one yellow. A small vase with flowers and books are placed on the headboard. String lights are visible on the right side, and the ceiling has wooden beams.
A cozy corner of a room with a wooden staircase decorated with string lights, a small stuffed toy on a plaid bedcover, a small cabinet near a window, and a potted plant on the window sill.
A cozy living room with dark gray walls, wooden ceiling beams, a pink velvet sofa with patterned pillows, a yellow armchair with a blanket, and a wooden shelf filled with books, potted plants, and decorative items. There is a window letting in natural light.
A woman sitting on the ground, wearing a black hat and white blouse, is watering plants in a lush garden or farm. In the background, a man is standing among various plants, with hills, wind turbines, and a partly cloudy sky behind them.

What we do & Why we do it

Casula provides skilful and stouthearted support to women and their children who are seeking sanctuary from intimate partner abuse or violence. 

We work to offer holistic education, advocacy and residential shelter services held within our larger farm and community project in the Aljezur concelho.

By inviting people into our extensive network of community care, we aim to restore and uplift everyone’s right to safety, dignity and belonging.

If you or someone you know needs help, reach out to us.

Do The Online Self Assessment
Email Us
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Our Story

Inspired by nature and uplifted in community, Casula is a place to rest, heal and transform.

It is a shelter-sanctuary nestled in the loving arms of Associação Comadres, our non-profit bringing diverse health, education and social action initiatives to the southwest Algarve.

With the meaningful support of our partner-allies at Fazenda Compadres and the broader community at large, Casula works to engage collective wisdom and resources so that more of us can live lives free from abuse or violence, prevent harm more skilfully and thrive together in a resilient ecology of care.

Learn More About Us
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How We Help

Community support by the people, for the people

By uplifting a woman’s own wisdom and right to choose for herself what happens and when, Casula engages a consent-based, trauma-informed and resiliency-led model of collaborative support, healing and transformation.

We work with a range of passionate and skilled professionals both in-house and throughout the community so that a woman’s own sense of dignity and safety is reflected back to her at time when she might need it most.

By offering both residential and non-residential services as well as opportunities for the whole community to engage in our onsite and online programming, we  work to weave a robust and holistic web of community care in which all of us can feel more supported, loved and encouraged.

Learn More About Non-Residential Services

“This is exactly the kind of place I wish I would have had when I needed to get away from my abusive relationship. It was the hardest time in my life and I needed somewhere warm with people who are non-judgemental and who understood that even though there was so much I needed to do, I also just needed to rest, be with my kids and build up my strength again. I wish Casula would have been around back then. And I’m so happy that I can contribute to it’s creation now."

ONE OF THE MANY COMADRES

Get Involved

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SOMATIC FIRST-AID FOR EVERYDAY RELATIONSHIPS

“Claiming Each Other” is our accredited, mind-body training, teaching anyone how to de-escalate conflict, reduce harm in their relationships and stay connected to themselves and others when times are tough.

Registration is open year round for groups.

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HOST OR ATTEND AN EVENT

We welcome the community at large to come learn, play, practice and create together.

Check out our Classes & Events Calendar. Have an idea for a class or event? Fill out Space Request Form.

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REGISTER AS A VOLUNTEER

From supporting women and families directly to helping in the library, apothecary or farm, there are many ways to join us as a volunteer or to be added to our network of professional service providers. Fill out the form in English or Portuguese to register your interest!

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SUPPORT THIS WORK

Visionary donors understand the power of holistic, community-based interventions for a host of social concerns, especially the prevalence of intimate partner abuse and violence. Your financial gift is a direct investment in providing a whole community a place to heal, learn & transform. Thank you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve worked to create a shelter where we ourselves would be grateful and proud to live, even under the best circumstances. We hope that you feel honoured and respected here and that the physical space, programming and policies reflect this intention. Visit our FAQ page to learn more or be warmly welcomed to send us an email if you more questions about the shelter or our larger project. 

Go to FAQ page
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Become A Sponsor

We are welcoming visionary donors who understand the power of holistic, community-based interventions for a host of social and systemic concerns, especially the prevalence of intimate partner abuse and violence.

If you are a passionate and engaged citizen, a socially-minded business or organization or someone with a powerful network of positive influence, we humbly invite you into our small but mighty sponsorship circle. 

Send us an email