'The best holidays I ever had': the benefits of social tourism programmes for children at risk of poverty and social exclusion

This chapter analyses children's participation in the social tourism programme promoted by the 'O Século' Foundation in Portugal. A literature review is first presented, which discusses both the constraints of poverty and social exclusion in childhood and the relevance of social tourism programmes in mitigating its effects and promoting social inclusion. The chapter then presents an analysis of 131 questionnaires and 132 drawings, collected during the 2014 summer holiday camps of the 'O Século' Foundation. Results are discussed in terms of children's motivations, satisfaction levels and perceived benefits from the social tourism programme.