Murals at a housing project in Portugal highlight UN goals and build local pride

AMADORA, Portugal — One mural, “No Poverty,” shows a Black woman tenderly braiding the hair of a white woman — a snapshot of family bonds that grew out of difficult times. Another, called “No Hunger,” depicts a local woman showing children her vegetable garden so they know where their food comes from.

They are among a collection of giant murals at a housing project on the outskirts of the Portuguese capital Lisbon that tell tales of intimacy, resilience and sustainable living.

The colorful art decorating the sides of almost identical five-story apartment blocks in the Zambujal area of Amadora, amid washing hanging out to dry and rows of parked cars, aims to showcase United Nations' sustainable development goals that strike a chord in the neighborhood. The goals include reducing inequalit