AE2O main activity is Escola de Segunda Oportunidade de Matosinhos, a pilot project that started in 2008, the first second chance school in the country, member of the European network of second chance schools (E2C-Europe). The school targets 15 to 25-year-old who have left school without qualifications and do not have a place anywhere else, offering every year to around 70 disfavored young people a new chance of quality training suitable to their needs and interests. Many students are referred through “court support teams” for young offenders, and others come through social services, mainstream schools and in general word of mouth peer-to peer information. The student profile is extremely diverse. The majority have completed no more than four or six years of initial education. For many, their interests and talents lie in practical rather than academic skills. The school has 70 student places lasting one year, which can begin at any point in the year. Building up a portfolio of work leads to certification equivalent to the sixth or ninth year of school. The school’s follows a holistic pedagogical approach through a “dynamic connection and combination between subjects”. The students develop their own Individual Training Plans, combining vocational, artistic, school and personal and social skills. Personal and social education is developed in a cross-cutting way through different media, in response to issues that arise within a group, individual or family setting. Parental education is provided also for parents asking for help with different issues such as benefits, food and jobs.
AE2O is certified by national agency DGERT as accredited training provider.
AE2O uses arts as a powerful instrument for social inclusion. The artistic activities of AE2O integrate a performative dimension, that empowers young people as actors and authors of their own life. Public artistic presentations, held in theater rooms, play an important role in the processes of social reintegration of young people.
AE2O develops also other activities of training, exchange and spreading of experiences. The school has its own European Center for Mobility, Training and Research in the frame of the European Network of Second Chance Schools. Through this center are promoted many international projects and organized applications to several funding agencies. For the last 15 years, AE2O has been organizing and participating in many international projects (youth exchanges and events, seminars, training courses, networking activities and partnerships) offering young people, staff and other adults opportunities for personal, professional and social development.
AE2O work has been recognized and validated at national and european level and help to establish a national policy addressing vulnerable young people early leavers from education and training, national program "Segunda Oportunidade" created by Despacho 6954/2019.
AE2O dynamizes the Portuguese Network of Second Chance Education Initiatives, E2O Portugal and is an active member of E2C Europe, the European Network of Second Chance Schools and MedNC, the Mediterranean Second Chance Education Network.
