Marlene Rosa and Francisco Saldanha won first prize with their work “A minha Tita era assim” and received their trophy at the 2026 Anti-Stigma Award Ceremony on 28 October 2026.
“A minha Tita era assim” (That’s Who My Grandma Tita Was) is an original song created as part of the broader Cortex School Bag Initiative, the first educational initiative in Portugal specifically designed to introduce the topic of dementia in primary schools.
The project was created after recognising a silent reality: many children experience dementia within their families but are rarely given the language, tools or emotional support to understand what is happening to a grandparent they deeply love.
“By bringing dementia into children’s stories and songs, we hope to replace fear with understanding, nurture empathy from an early age, and help build a society without stigma.”
“Music has the power to reach where words sometimes cannot, creating emotional bridges that help children understand dementia with greater sensitivity, empathy and openness.”
Francisco on Instagram and Facebook.
