You wake up and look around, you´re overwhelmed by the reality of the world you live in. You want to do something, but you don’t even know where to begin with. You look in the mirror and ask yourself what can you do to help. You are just one person. How can one simple person make a difference? How will you be a hero? The heavy weight of it all is enough to make you want to go back to bed. But before you despair, let us tell you that it is possible. That question has a lot of answers, but so that there is no doubt, so you don´t think that heroes cannot transcend fiction, we created “Heróis de Aveiro” (Heroes of Aveiro).

“Heróis de Aveiro” is a compilation of stories from those that daily make a difference in the life of the ones in need. People that, through their professions and solidary acts, dedicate their time to help improve the life of the people around them. Firefighters, nurses, teachers, policemen, neighbors, family, and friends, people that, despite not wearing red capes, are true heroes in their communities.

“Heróis de Aveiro” tells the story of people like Rosa Gadanho, teacher for over four decades in Centro Escolar of Santiago, someone who was involved in the creation of the town´s school libraries and who was a firefighter in a time where only man had that career. Or the story of Rui Figueiredo, a police officer of the Polícia de Segurança Pública of Aveiro who, with a natural talent, works with victims of domestic violence and the elderly.

For all of this, we honor them and their acts of bravery, sacrifice and compassion by registering their stories, available in agoraaveiro.org/en/iloveaveiro, and through a photographic exhibition on FNAC Aveiro, in exposition since the 12th of February.

These people are the living proof that anyone of us can be a hero. Let their lives and stories be the inspiration we needed to crash any doubt about our impact on others, because we also do not need superpowers. The next time you devote your time helping the one in need or improving your community, know that the shadow that follows you, in every step you take, has the shape of a hero, with or without a cape.

“Heróis de Aveiro” is part of the “I Love Aveiro” project. It was made in association with Plate.pt, Floricolor, Moldura Minuto e FNAC Aveiro. It also had the the support of Câmara Municipal de Aveiro, do Corpo Europeu de Solidariedade e do Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude I.P..