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Ana Águas article
A Avó Veio Trabalhar: the power to reinvent aging through design and creativity
Em 2014, in the heart of Lisbon, a transformative idea was born: create a space where older people could continue to feel useful, recognized and integrated. This is how Grandma Came to Work came about, promoted by Fermenta Association, with the support of Lisbon City Council, under the BIPZIP program — Neighborhoods and Priority Intervention Zones.
The project was born from the desire to combat social isolation and promote active aging through creativity and handmade. The inspiration came from the realization that many grandmothers had talent, experience and time, but they lacked a space to express all of this. The first workshops opened their doors to the sound of needles, lines and laughter — places where embroidered gloves were created, blankets and pillows, mixing traditional knowledge with contemporary design. Eleven years later, the project continues to grow, faithful to its mission of deconstructing stereotypes about age, create bridges between generations and ensure the social and creative sustainability of the initiative.
In the workshops of A Avó Came to Work, craftsmanship and design intersect in perfect harmony. The Grandmothers bring with them decades of knowledge and mastery in embroidery, sewing, knitting and crochet — and Fermenta’s creative team transforms these gestures into pieces with contemporary language. At the moment, the project has hubs creatives in Lisbon, Cascais and the Azores, where collections are produced that reflect Portuguese cultural identity and the value of manual work. Each piece is a celebration of the Grandmothers’ intangible heritage and their ability to recreate the past with an eye on the future..
The impact of the project goes far beyond the products created. For Grandmothers, participating means autonomy, self-esteem and social interaction. It's an opportunity to learn, share, create and, above all, belong. Many dreamed again, to feel useful and recognized. Created new friendships, discovered new passions and found in creation a space of freedom and affection. In the community, the project strengthens intergenerational ties, values Portuguese artisanal heritage and inspires other initiatives to follow the same path. Activities include workshops, creative residences, urban art festivals, team buildings and collaborations with brands — always with the purpose of showing that getting older means continuing to have a voice, creativity and purpose.
Over the years, Avó Veio Trabalho had notable collaborations with brands and institutions such as Benetton, Penam, Nestlé, Dove, Filorga, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and MUDE – Design and Fashion Museum, in addition to municipal councils in various regions of the country. Recognition also came through awards — such as the Best Idea of the Year awarded by Time Out in 2015, the Ibero-American Design Biennial Award, and inclusion in Time Out Global’s “50 Future Makers” list, that highlights projects that are changing the world. Expansion to the Azores, em 2019, and to Cascais, em 2024, as well as participation in international design weeks in Budapest, Gent and Edhoven, and the creative residencies in Erfurt and Tokyo, reinforced the global dimension and social impact of this very Portuguese project.
Today, Avó Veio Trabalho faces the challenge of ensuring its financial sustainability and expanding the social impact of its model. The future involves strengthening partnerships with public entities, private and cultural, and continue to invest in new forms of collaboration and collective creation. Among the plans is also the implementation of a subscription model for “creative KITs 60+ – Grandmother comes out of the box”, designed to take the workshop experience home and inspire new Grandmothers to create.
The success of A Avó Veio Trabalhar depends on the active participation of Grandparents and clients who believe in the transformative power of design and sharing. Every purchase, each office, each partnership helps keep this space of affection alive, creativity and inclusion. If you know a grandmother with talent, curiosity or desire to learn, or if you want to support a cause that values what is Portuguese and genuine, This is the time to join this intergenerational creation network. Because when Grandma comes to work, the whole world learns — to do, taking care of and reinventing the future with our hands.
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