We have beds available in our shelter. Need help? Email us at hello@wearecomadres.org or call +351 961 685 623 M-F 10H-17H
A sanctuary for women and children that provides a whole ecosystem of care.
Casula (noun)
Welcome to Casula
Casula is a sanctuary for women and children that provides a whole ecosystem of care.
When a woman arrives at Casula seeking safety from relationship abuse or violence, she enters into:
A protected, private space designed with intention to restore autonomy & create opportunities to rest, heal & transform
A team of trauma-informed, skillful Comadres who understand healing and abuse
Access to our library, apothecary, farm, and community resources
Opportunities to learn, heal, and rebuild her sense of self
A community that welcomes her children, honours her timeline, and respects her choices
What We Offer:
Residential Sanctuary 6 protected beds + personalized care, meals, and a safe space to rest and heal.
Trauma-Informed Support Counseling, crisis intervention, connection to professional services (therapy, legal, medical), and support for children.
Access to Comadres' Resources Residents are welcome to engage with our community library, herbal medicine consultations, farm work and time in nature, and community events and workshops.
Practical Help Support with housing, legal advocacy, employment planning, childcare, and transportation.
Ongoing Community We stay connected even after you leave, because healing doesn't end.
Our approach & core values
We are a skillful, trauma-informed team guided by these core values:
Acolhimiento (Welcoming Care) Every woman who arrives is welcomed with respect, dignity, and the assumption that she knows what's best for herself. We create space for her healing, on her timeline, in her way.
Trauma-Informed Approach We understand that abuse damages a woman's sense of safety and agency. Everything we do—from the physical space to how we interact—is designed to support her as she rebuilds her sense of choice and safety.
Consent-Based Participation No mandatory programs. No shame. No judgment about her timeline or choices. She decides what support looks like: therapy, workshops, time on the farm, library access, herbal consultations, or simply rest and space.
Community-Embedded Healing She is not healing in isolation. She is part of a larger community where volunteers, other residents, staff, and the land itself all contribute to restoring her sense of belonging."
How We Help
Community support by the people, for the people
We work with a range of passionate and skilled professionals both in-house and throughout the community so that a woman’s own sense of dignity and safety is reflected back to her at time when she might need it most.
By offering both residential and non-residential services as well as opportunities for the whole community to engage in our onsite and online programming, we work to weave a robust and holistic web of community care in which all of us can feel more supported, loved and encouraged.
IF YOU'RE EXPERIENCING ABUSE. YOU'RE NOT ALONE.
If you're experiencing abuse or violence, know that help is available.
Real people who understand. Real support that meets you where you are.
You deserve safety. You deserve healing. You deserve community.
The first step is to reach out. We're here to listen and support you.
You can download our Personal Safety Plan to get more information about the options you can have.
Our Story
Inspired by nature and uplifted in community, Casula is a place to rest, heal and transform.
It is a shelter-sanctuary nestled in the loving arms of Associação Comadres, our non-profit bringing diverse health, education and social action initiatives to the southwest Algarve.
With the meaningful support of our partner-allies at Fazenda Compadres and the broader community at large, Casula works to engage collective wisdom and resources so that more of us can live lives free from abuse or violence, prevent harm more skilfully and thrive together in a resilient ecology of care.
“This is exactly the kind of place I wish I would have had when I needed to get away from my abusive relationship. It was the hardest time in my life and I needed somewhere warm with people who are non-judgemental and who understood that even though there was so much I needed to do, I also just needed to rest, be with my kids and build up my strength again. I wish Casula would have been around back then. And I’m so happy that I can contribute to it’s creation now."
ONE OF THE MANY COMADRES
YOU'RE NOT ALONE. YOU'RE WELCOME HERE.
Get Involved
SOMATIC FIRST-AID FOR EVERYDAY RELATIONSHIPS
“Claiming Each Other” is our accredited, mind-body training, teaching anyone how to de-escalate conflict, reduce harm in their relationships and stay connected to themselves and others when times are tough.
Registration is open year round for groups.
HOST OR ATTEND AN EVENT
We welcome the community at large to come learn, play, practice and create together.
Check out our Classes & Events Calendar. Have an idea for a class or event? Fill out Space Request Form.
REGISTER AS A VOLUNTEER
From supporting women and families directly to helping in the library, apothecary or farm, there are many ways to join us as a volunteer or to be added to our network of professional service providers. Fill out the form in English or Portuguese to register your interest!
SUPPORT THIS WORK
Visionary donors understand the power of holistic, community-based interventions for a host of social concerns, especially the prevalence of intimate partner abuse and violence. Your financial gift is a direct investment in providing a whole community a place to heal, learn & transform. Thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve worked to create a shelter where we ourselves would be grateful and proud to live, even under the best circumstances. We hope that you feel honoured and respected here and that the physical space, programming and policies reflect this intention. Visit our FAQ page to learn more or be warmly welcomed to send us an email if you more questions about the shelter or our larger project.
Become A Sponsor
We are welcoming visionary donors who understand the power of holistic, community-based interventions for a host of social and systemic concerns, especially the prevalence of intimate partner abuse and violence.
If you are a passionate and engaged citizen, a socially-minded business or organization or someone with a powerful network of positive influence, we humbly invite you into our small but mighty sponsorship circle.