Manuel Maria Freitas De Sousa

As the Policy and Project Manager at AMICOS.ORG, I lead initiatives that promote the social and economic inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities while advancing marine restoration efforts in rural Galicia. Our region, deeply connected to the sea through fishing and aquaculture, depends on healthy marine ecosystems for both livelihoods and biodiversity.

At AMICOS.ORG, we collaborate with local, regional, national, and international stakeholders to restore marine and coastal environments, enhancing their resilience in the face of climate change. Our work includes habitat restoration, sustainable fisheries initiatives, and the rehabilitation of marine biodiversity, ensuring that conservation efforts align with social equity and economic sustainability. By integrating environmental action with inclusion programs, we create opportunities for people with disabilities to contribute meaningfully to ocean conservation and the blue economy.