On 11 July, the Rotary Club of Albufeira celebrated the 55th Anniversary of its foundation, bringing together Rotarians, representatives of Portuguese and international Rotary clubs, district leaders, local authorities, institutional partners and friends of Rotary in a ceremony marked by fellowship, tribute to the Club's history and a renewed commitment to the future.
Founded on 16 June 1971, the Rotary Club of Albufeira celebrated more than five decades of service to the community, reaffirming the values of Rotary
International and its mission to promote education, solidarity, leadership, friendship and peace.
The celebrations also included the Club's 2nd Charity Paella, a fundraising initiative supporting the Rotary Club of Albufeira's humanitarian and community projects, together with the Transfer of Responsibilities Ceremony, marking the conclusion of the 2025–2026 Rotary year and the beginning of the 2026–2027 Rotary year under Rotary International's message: "Create Lasting Impact."
The ceremony was attended by the Vice-Mayor of Albufeira, Dr. Jorge Carmo, representing the Mayor, Eng. Rui Cristina, highlighting the long-standing institutional partnership between the Municipality of Albufeira and the Rotary Club of Albufeira in developing projects that benefit the local community.
Among the distinguished guests were Past District Governors Paulo Taveira de Sousa, Mara Duarte and Afonso Malho, District Protocol Director André Carvalho, presidents and representatives of several Portuguese and international Rotary clubs, including clubs from the Algarve, the Rotary Club Berlin-Metropole and the Rotaract Club Parque das Nações, reflecting the Club's strong district and international relationships.
During the ceremony, tribute was paid to the Club's founders, with special recognition given to António Gonçalves, the last surviving founding member of the Rotary Club of Albufeira, who passed away in 2025.
The Club also honoured the memory of Dr. José Carlos Rolo, former President of the Rotary Club of Albufeira and former Mayor of Albufeira, together with Past District Governor Abílio Lopes, recognising their lasting friendship, leadership and dedication to the ideals of Rotary.
One of the highlights of the evening was the induction of Vanderley, a former Rotary scholarship recipient and now a teacher at the Albufeira School Group, together with the return of Manuel Casimiro to Club membership, symbolising renewal, continuity and the strengthening of the Club's membership.
The Rotary Club of Albufeira also presented 55th Anniversary Commemorative Awards to individuals whose dedication and commitment have made a significant contribution to the Club's recent history and to the development of its service projects.
In his address, Club President Jorge Azevedo emphasised that "the greatest asset of a Rotary club is its people," highlighting that the Club's 55th Anniversary represents not only a celebration of its history but also a renewed commitment to future generations.
The annual report presented during the ceremony highlighted the award of eight university scholarships to students from the Municipality of Albufeira through a partnership involving the Rotary Club of Albufeira, the Portuguese Rotary Foundation and several community partners, including the Municipality of Albufeira and the Albufeira Business Association (ACALB), reinforcing one of the municipality's most significant initiatives supporting higher education.
The Club also highlighted several humanitarian initiatives carried out throughout the Rotary year, including support for communities affected by severe weather, new partnerships to assist CASA – Centre for Support to Homeless People, h
umanitarian assistance to Cape Verde, support for local animal welfare initiatives, contributions to the Portuguese Rotary Foundation, the Annual Fund SHARE, and the global End Polio Now campaign.
Throughout the year, the Rotary Club of Albufeira actively participated in District 1960 activities, including district seminars, the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Lisbon, the 80th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Setúbal, and numerous interclub meetings and Rotary events across Portugal.
The Rotary Club of Albufeira's headquarters also hosted District meetings of Club Presidents and Assistant Governors, as well as Rotarians from several countries, further strengthening its role as a true Rotary House, open to fellowship, international friendship and service.
As the new Rotary year begins, the Rotary Club of Albufeira reaffirmed its commitment to continue investing in youth, education, membership growth, stronger institutional partnerships and the development of new community service and peacebuilding initiatives, together with strengthening its University Scholarship Programme, developing an Interact Club, and organising a new edition of RYLA Algarve.
Celebrating 55 years of service, the Rotary Club of Albufeira renews the commitment it assumed in 1971: Service Above Self, and One Profits Most Who Serves Best , continuing to serve the community while creating a positive and lasting impact for future generations.
Photos by Alberto Cortez
