Social Impact Days are here!

Erasmus Student Network (ESN) launches an initiative - the Social Impact Days, engaging the international students, members of local communities, and ESN volunteers, across 40 countries, where ESN is present.

As a network, we aim to give back to the society in any way possible and one of our many missions is the enrichment of society through international students. ESN is here again with a new campaign aiming to encourage the active engagement of exchange students within their local communities, in all kinds of activities that can make a positive impact on society.
Mobility programmes are beneficial for the whole society, not only for those who take part in them. That's why ESN is here to give opportunities to students, so they can develop as active citizens, and for local communities to see how impactful the mobility programmes are for society. The campaign wants to promote the efforts that local ESN associations make throughout the year, to make mobilities more meaningful for participants and communities, while working on making them more attractive and inclusive to young people.
From 29th of November to the 12th of December, ESN´s 500-strong local associations will organize online and presential activities that promote Education, Youth, Culture, Social Inclusion, Environmental Sustainability, Health & Well-being, Skills Development, and Employability. ESN advocates that bringing international students and local communities together creates space for solidarity, intercultural dialogue and civic engagement.
The Social Impact Days will concur with the launch of the local phase of the Erasmus+ project Social Inclusion and Engagement in Mobility, offering support to local associations in order to fund community engagement initiatives that foster inclusive internationalization.

ESN Porto is celebrating ESN's Social Impact Days by building bridges between internationals and our community and promoting important discussions. From the 29th of November to the 12th of December, get ready to join our activities, connect with other international students and locals, and discover amazing organisations that share our values and causes!

To kick off this initiative, on the 29 November, we will discuss well-being, mental health and mobility in the online debate  "Young, abroad and... looking after yourself?", co-organised with the pan-European organisation Euro Youth Mental Health.

On the 2nd of December, we will launch our "Collecting goods to do good" campaign, organised in partnership with Para Onde? a national organisation promoting volunteering, to collect hygiene and baby products for young mothers in situations of risk and economical needs.

To celebrate the International Day of Volunteering (5 December), we teamed up with the volunteers from Humans Before Borders to gather international students and locals in a dialogue about refugees and Human Rights in the format of a pub quiz.

Of course, we could not finish without one of our favourite events, Erasmus in Schools. We will host a very special "Holidays Edition" for the kids and youth of Obra do Frei Gil, a local NGO, on the 10th of December.

And our actions to leave a positive impact are not limited to these days. For example, on the 25 November, International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women, we hosted a Local Dialogue on Gender Roles and Stereotypes. Later, we will join forces with FC Porto (yes, that one - one of the major sports clubs in the country) to promote social inclusion in the "Sports for All" activity happening on the 15th of December! And before the semester ends, we will also inspire our followers to have "Green Holidays" by sharing tips on Christmas and sustainability on our social media. 

Join us and leave your mark!