SPEAK, a partner of Vasco Vieira de Almeida Foundation, moves to the online world and is now free to use to break loneliness, and enable the creation of support networks with language learning.

With the COVID-19 outbreak reaching a pandemic stage, vulnerable groups are now more isolated than ever and facing a period of uncertainty and anxiety alone. For that reason, SPEAK will continue its mission of promoting inclusion and belonging, and will be moving all its language groups online until the end of May.

Language groups will be free for everyone and will work via video conference. Those who want to support the project can contribute on a “pay what you want model” to make sure SPEAK continues to reach community members who can benefit from the project but cannot afford it.

The online language groups will consist of 10 daily 90-minute sessions (Monday to Friday), for two weeks, with two levels available: Basic and Conversational. Groups will be led by buddies from all over the world that are fluent in the languages they are sharing and will welcome between four and seven participants.

Everyone can apply to share their language and culture, or to learn a new one at www.speak.social/en/.

Co-founder Hugo Menino Aguiar, said “We know these sessions can't solve the issue the world is facing, but this is our best effort to bring you some love, and opportunities to learn”, and he added, “It doesn’t matter where you are and who you are. Yes, there is social distance but there does not have to be loneliness. Even though borders are closing all over the place, our minds are free and more open than ever.”