Sara Beirão facts for kids

Sara Beirão (1880-1974) was a Portuguese writer and journalist. She also worked hard for women's rights and helped people in need. She is famous for her children's books and for editing a magazine called Alma feminina, which focused on women's issues.

Early Life and Education

Sarah de Vasconcelos Carvalho Beirão was born on July 30, 1880, in Tábua, Portugal. Her parents were Maria José da Costa Mathias and Doctor Francisco de Vasconcellos Carvalho Beirão. She went to school in Porto. This was special because very few girls got a good education back then.

Sara started writing for newspapers when she was just 18. She wrote for O Tabuense, a newspaper her father started. She also wrote for other newspapers and a magazine called Humanidade. Sometimes, she used a boy's name, Álvaro de Vasconcelos, to write her articles.

Working for Change

In May 1909, Sara Beirão became very active in politics. She helped organize the first big meeting for the Republican cause in Tábua. Republicans in Portugal wanted to change the country from a monarchy (ruled by a king or queen) to a republic (ruled by elected leaders). Her father was also involved in this movement.

In the same month, Sara joined two important groups:

• The Portuguese League of Peace: This group believed women could help bring peace to the world.
• The Republican League of Portuguese Women: Sara became the leader of the Tábua branch of this group.

In 1910, Sara married António da Costa Carvalho. In 1928, they moved to Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal. There, Sara joined the "Group of Thirteen." This women's group wanted to fight against old ideas and beliefs that stopped women from having more freedom.

She also joined the Conselho Nacional das Mulheres Portuguesas (National Council of Portuguese Women). This council was started by a doctor named Adelaide Cabete in 1914. Sara became the president of this council in 1935, after Adelaide Cabete passed away. She led the council until 1941.

Helping Others

Besides fighting for women's rights, Sara Beirão also loved helping people. She focused on helping children and older people who were struggling.

In 1964, the Sarah Beirão and António Costa Carvalho Foundation was created. This foundation opened a special home in Tábua for retired artists and writers. It was built in an old house that used to belong to Sara's grandparents, and it was her birthplace. Today, this home helps about 100 people, offering them a place to live and care.

Her Books and Articles

Sara Beirão wrote many books, mostly stories for adults and children. She was one of the most successful Portuguese writers in the 20th century. She published 16 books, including two collections of short stories.

Her books were shown at a special "Exhibition of Books Written by Women" in 1947. This event featured three thousand books by 1400 women writers from many countries.

Sara also wrote for many newspapers and magazines in Portugal and even in Brazil. Her articles and regular columns were often written for women readers. From the mid-1930s, she was the director and editor of Alma Feminina magazine. This magazine was published by the National Council of Portuguese Women. It featured articles about famous women who fought for women's rights, both from Portugal and other countries. The magazine stopped publishing in 1947 when the government closed the council.

Sara Beirão passed away in Tábua on May 21, 1974, when she was 93 years old. People remember her in Tábua with a public garden named Jardim Sarah Beirão. Streets in other places are also named after her.

See also

In Spanish: Sara Beirão para niños