Helena Franco

I'm Helena Franco, I'm 14 years old, and I live in Abela, Santiago do Cacém. I've always liked art and sports. I enjoy drawing, painting, playing the piano, and playing volleyball. I was part of the school theater group, but quickly realized it didn't appeal to me much. So I decided to learn the piano at a music school, which is now how I spend my free time. I also like writing and use music as inspiration for my poems. I met Madalena, Matilde, and Inês in the POVOADO project here in Abela. After a few months, I was invited to participate in BOWING. It was the first time I entered a project that involved so many people from different cultures, in a completely new place where I hardly knew anyone. At first it was strange; I felt a bit invaded from the inside, but as the days went by I got used to it. I got used to the people, the hustle and bustle, and let myself be infected by the joy of those moments. In the show, I performed dances from various countries, each with its own story, and talked to the audience about myself in the ‘Comfort Zone’. I met many people, made friends, and despite not always understanding the language, I ended up forming very strong bonds. In the days leading up to the shows, I often felt anxious and under a certain pressure, but in the end, everything went very well. I had fun, learned, and transformed. I have a memory of looking at the landscape on the way home after a show and thinking about all the things that had happened that day, in that moment that was just ours. It was definitely a feeling I would like to experience again without thinking twice. I realized that people transform us in such a short time and that seizing an opportunity can change a lot and lead us to previously unknown sensations. I learned that one should seize an opportunity without expecting anything in return."