How Claro Was Born

The Claro Movement emerged from the initiative of three friends united by respect for Nature and a passion for the Sea .

The project originated from a small environmental awareness campaign —seemingly simple, but with a significant impact—that drew attention to the problem of disposable plastic in the oceans .

Inspired by a campaign by surfers in Cornwall, England, that mobilized the community against the use of disposable plastic straws, the Claro Movement was part of this global trend of raising awareness about the risks of this material to marine ecosystems.

From Movement to Association

The success of the initiative led to the creation of the Claro Youth Association , officially founded in June 2018 in Cascais.

Since then, our work has expanded through awareness campaigns, environmental education, and local impact projects , always with the goal of promoting a more responsible relationship with the ocean .

Our Performance

The Claro Association operates on several fronts:

  • Environmental education in schools, to inspire new generations to protect the environment;
  • Events and activities with the general public and in partnership with companies;
  • Collaboration with public entities , such as the Cascais City Council and the Cascais and Estoril Parish Council , in the development of environmental and community projects.

Our Mission

To promote environmental awareness and reduce the impact of single-use plastics by engaging the community in practical and impactful actions that help protect the ocean and inspire change .

The Team

Carolina Gonçalves

Co-Founder and Coordinator of the "Torre Plstik" Project

Carolina is a lawyer, a Cristiano Ronaldo at every sport, and a complete workaholic — basically a human being with a glitch in her programming that stops her from ever switching off. If there were a world championship for productivity, she'd already have ten Ballon d'Ors!

Teresa Vale

Co-Founder and Coordinator of the Dive in Cascais and ReciClaro Project

Teresa (also known as Panda) loves Disney movies, which have given her a completely unrealistic idea of how many pets one person can have... She's currently the leader of a pack of 5 dogs of different breeds. Somehow she also manages to be a biologist and a diving instructor!

Inês Pereira

Volunteer and Team Building Coordinator

A marine biologist at heart, Inês focused her academic path on sustainable fishing, dedicating herself to understanding how to make the relationship between the sea and people more harmonious.

She believes that protecting the sea starts with understanding who depends on it — and has made that her mission. Outside of work, she's passionate about cooking (and eating), and discovered in photography — both above and below the water — a way to capture the beauty and calm of the ocean. She loves traveling, dancing, and considers stand-up comedy shows the perfect way to recharge.

Mariana Rocha Assis

Founder of the Social Skate School

Mariana lives between surfboards, skateboards, and... vegetable gardens. A world surfskate champion, professional surfer, and one of the great references of the sport in Portugal, she believes life is best lived outdoors (preferably with sand between her toes and wind in her face).

When she's not teaching skateboarding, you might find her tending her vegetable garden or running a hotel in Sri Lanka (yes, she's a woman of many talents).

A born entrepreneur and nature lover, Mariana believes sport is a powerful tool for inclusion — and proves it every day with her infectious enthusiasm.

Inês Conceição

Social Media Coordinator

Inês communicates with the same passion she dives with: wholeheartedly. She holds a Master's in Digital Marketing & Analytics and is responsible for giving voice to the brand's social media, telling stories that connect people, the sea, and sustainability.

Passionate about the sea and nature, she finds her favorite place in the world underwater. With a declared love for marine life, she believes we only truly protect what we know — and that good communication is one of the most powerful ways to care for the ocean.

When she's not planning strategies or creating content, she's probably dreaming about her next dive or reminding us that there's no Planet B (and no spare ocean either).