Católica celebrates the 2023-24 edition of Projeto Vida, which mobilised 343 volunteers and 27 organisations
On 18 June, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) will celebrate the end of the 2023-24 edition of Projeto Vida, UCP's Volunteering Initiative, with a conference at its headquarters in Lisbon. Over the course of the year, 343 volunteers - UCP students, teachers and staff - accepted the challenge and reinforced the university's commitment to social responsibility by supporting 27 social organisations.
Maria Francisca Cardoso is one of the volunteers at UCP's headquarters, a student studying Economics at the Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics. She chose the Estar Juntos Cascais project, which organises activities with the elderly, and the experience could not have been better. "Each session was different, but I was surprised by the joy of living, dancing and singing. Above all, with their ability to share their life journeys, all of them unique and which have moulded my understanding of life. It was inspiring,’ she summarises.
‘’I have incredible memories of this month and a huge desire to take these lessons with me into the future,‘’ Maria shares, showing that in volunteering you receive as much or more than you give.
An initiative that has an impact not only on those involved, but also ‘positive results of community involvement and collective efforts,’ emphasises Chibuzor Essein, a doctoral student in Psychology of Well-being and Emotions at UCP. For the volunteer, the experience at Pontes de Caridade ‘reaffirmed the importance of volunteer work in creating positive change and fostering a sense of community and compassion.’
Ema Brito, a law student, also had a very ‘rewarding’ experience at the União Zoófila. Having wanted to ‘try volunteering that involved looking after animals, this opportunity has exceeded my expectations’, she confesses, revealing her desire to continue: ‘I hope to continue my involvement with the União Zoófila and contribute, in whatever way I can, to the proper conditions and love that these animals so deserve’.’
In the area of environmental protection, Jana Pfuhl, who is in Portugal to study a Master's degree in Communication Sciences, supported the Movimento Claro in the Torre Plstik Project, being able to ‘turn rubbish into skateboards for children,’ an experience with ‘a fantastic team and skateboarding lessons included,’ emphasises.
Inês Quadros, professor at the Lisbon School of the UCP Faculty of Law, also collaborated in the preparation of meals at CASA - the Homeless Support Centre, an experience that left her ‘wanting to do it again.’ Rita Paiva e Pona, Advisor to the Rector's Office for Social Responsibility and Coordinator of the Social Responsibility Office, gave a Personal Development Workshop at the same institution, ‘a concrete opportunity to put the University at the service of the community and those around us.’
On 18 June, at 5.30pm, in UCP's Sala de Exposições, UCP volunteers, students, researchers, professors and staff will come together to share these and many other experiences they've had throughout the year, side by side with representatives of the organisations they support. In the presence of Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of the University, the conference will also present the results and commitments for the future.