SOCIAL INCLUSION
Our goal is simple yet powerful: to integrate Erasmus students into the local community through volunteer projects. We want you not only to live in our city but to become an active part of it, contributing to making it a better place for everyone. And the best part? We have a variety of volunteer projects for you to choose from, tailored to your interests and skills. Whether you're passionate about education, the environment, animal care, or any other area, there's a place for you in our volunteer family. Together, we can make a difference and create lasting bonds that transcend borders.
Let's turn this Erasmus experience into something truly memorable, while making a positive impact wherever we go!
If you are interested in helping any of these associations, please fill out this form.
1. Just a Change:
Just a Change is a non-profit association dedicated to rebuilding homes for those living in Housing Poverty. Renovating homes, Rebuilding Lives!
Turn Up Program:
The Turn Up is a volunteer program that lasts for 4 hours daily, once a week, over the course of one month (in this case, April).
The teams are composed of 5 volunteers, one coordinator, and one construction technician, who guides and executes the work. The shift will be on Wednesdays, from 14:00 to 18:00.
Despite being demanding volunteering, there is a very good atmosphere at the site, very relaxed and lively! If you want to join us in changing lives, here's what you need to know:
- During the month of April, you commit to coming once a week (Wednesday) to spend 4 hours at the site.
- We work in teams from 14:00 to 18:00.
- Each team has a responsible coordinator.
- There is always a professional technician present at the site who guides the work and teaches you everything you need to know.
- Registration costs €5 (includes a T-shirt, insurance, tools, and protective equipment).
- You must bring steel-toe boots, clothes to get dirty, and most importantly, a spirit of service. If you don't have steel-toe boots, we can lend you a pair, subject to availability (the boots are used, and the loan must be arranged in advance).
2. CROAM:
"Go Walk the Dog!" Program:
This program provides the entire community, who are dog lovers but often unable to proceed with animal adoption due to various reasons, an opportunity for an outdoor walk with the animals awaiting adoption at CROAM by a family.
With this program, we encourage the socialization of our animals and improve their well-being, while raising awareness among all participants about the issue of abandonment and the importance of adoption in animal shelters. The walk lasts a maximum of 2 hours and takes place from CROAM, through Parque da Ciência, to Parque Ecológico Monte de São Brás.
To participate in a walk, each candidate must register individually using the following link:
After registration, our services will contact you to schedule a day for walking our furry friends within the available time slots.
"Be a Volunteer for a Day!" Program:
It's a one-day volunteer experience where you can have a different morning or afternoon helping the cause of animals.
Participants in the program will be welcomed by team members at Parque Ecológico do Monte de São Brás, at a time to be arranged, where a brief presentation of the CROAM service will be made, as well as the animals available for the activity.
All necessary explanations and demonstrations will be given to perform the tasks until the volunteer feels comfortable and capable of performing them autonomously.
Parque Ecológico do Monte de São Brás has an available delimited area where animals can be released for better interaction and socialization between the volunteer and the animal.
CROAM believes that this experience, in addition to being very important for the socialization and well-being of animals, can also be a way to cultivate the spirit of mutual aid and team-building among volunteers, strengthening stronger bonds that will surely reflect in personal life.
Scheduling must be done at least 1 month in advance, and the minimum number of participants is 10.
3. CASA:
CASA - Centro de Apoio ao Sem Abrigo is a social solidarity insitution. Its main goal is the distribution of meals to homeless or socially disadvantaged people.
Mission:
Our mission is to help those who find themselves without shelter through social solidarity, providing close contact, food, clothing, hygiene products, and social reintegration services, independent of social status, ethnicity, religion or gender.
CASA Porto:
CASA Porto has worked with the more fragile residents of Porto since 2008. Since then, the work carried out has been more and more relevant to the target audience, supporting more people every year and in more complete and varied ways, to try and fulfill diverse needs. We rely on a team of over 300 volunteers that help those in need every day, 365 days per year, with kind words, a meal, or other actions.
Main projects:
- CASA AMIGA - Delivery of food baskets to families in need
- Equipas de Rua - Distribution of meals throughout the streets of Porto
- Restaurantes Solidários - Management of the distribution of about 600 meals per day, 365 days per year, along with CMP
- SOS CASA - Emergency aid
- CASA SOCIAL - Social aid in managing and accompanying cases of homeless people and families in employability, acompannying for appointments, etc.
- AR+CA - Partnership with Associação Animais de Rua to bring food to the pets of homeless people and families in need.
- Haircuts
We accept volunteers for the "Restaurantes Solidários" project, that occurs everyday from 19h30 to 22h30.
4. Porta Solidária:
Porta Solidária is a meal distribution service for homeless and other socially disadvantaged people, which acts to fight hunger in the city of Porto. The association serves their meals at tables, inviting people to sit down in order to incentivize social interaction. Therefore, this service requires good resource management and motivated volunteers.
Their work is divided in three shifts: from 9h00 to 11h00 (Mondays to Fridays), 16h00 to 17h00 (Sundays to Fridays), and 17h30 to 20h00 (Sundays to Fridays).
The kitchen opens at 15h00. Outside volunteering, you can also contribute to Porta Solidária through donations, be it food or monetary. Donations can be delivered at Bar da Paróquia from 9h30 to 20h00 (Mondays to Saturdays) or from 15h00 to 20h00 (Sundays). Monetary donations can also be made through a bank transfer (NIB: 001000008111716000171).