Carminda Maria dos Santos Faria

Popular poet. In her studies, she did not go beyond the 3rd year of high school, but she made social solidarity her life's mission. In 1966, she left for South Africa, where she dedicated herself to the Catholic Church, both in catechizing children and providing humanitarian aid to the sick. After Portuguese decolonization, she received hundreds of compatriots who emigrated to South Africa, providing them with food, clothing, and means of subsistence until they integrated into society. She returned to her homeland in 1976, settling in Espinho, but in 1981 she moved to the Algarve, where she continues to dedicate herself to the most needy. In her poetry, she has translated this solidarity, collaborating in the collections Poeta É o Povo and Poetas de Portimão, published in 1993 by that municipality. She has participated in various poetry gatherings and regional literary competitions.