AE2O

AE2O is a non-profit organization whose goal is to promote "second chance" education, primarily working with disadvantaged youth with low qualifications, unemployed individuals, and those at risk of social exclusion. Its main activity is managing the second-chance school in Matosinhos (Escola de Segunda Oportunidade de Matosinhos), the first second-chance school in the country and a member of the European network of second-chance schools (E2C-Europe). The school targets young people aged 15 to 25 who have dropped out of school without completing basic education due to social and emotional difficulties that prevented them from continuing in formal education. Often, the circumstances behind this phenomenon are linked to their families' negative perceptions of their educational experiences, stemming from difficult family situations related to unemployment, poverty, and substance abuse.

The Matosinhos Second-Chance School has been offering young people who dropped out of education a new experience for 15 years, based on individual training plans, recognition, validation, and certification of skills acquired through training activities and life experiences. Our team is highly motivated to explore and experiment with new methodologies and creative methods to promote non-formal education for at-risk youth. Our teachers and staff are eager to incorporate new tools into their educational practices to improve the chances of success in our challenging educational context. Since 2004, we have developed youth exchange projects and other mobility and training initiatives with many partners across Europe, exploring the potential of arts, creativity, and innovation in socio-educational inclusion work to engage young people in their personal and social development processes.

The school offers 70 student spots for one-year programs, which can begin at any time of the year. The creation of a portfolio of work leads to certification equivalent to the 6th, 9th, or 12th year of schooling. The school follows a holistic pedagogical approach through a "dynamic connection and combination of subjects."