Around a hundred students and professors from Universidade Católica (UCP) and representatives from various social organisations and companies met to reflect on the impact of volunteering on the Sustainable Development Goals on 22 February.

Social inequalities and sustainability were the main topics of debate at the Transforming Communities | Volunteer Insights for the SDGs event organised by the Careers&Talent Office of CATÓLICA-LISBON and the University's Social Responsibility Office (GRS).

At this meeting, six UCP partner organisations in the Projeto Vida - Volunteering at Católica shared their testimonies on the importance of volunteering: Além do Manual, CASA – Centro de apoio ao Sem-Abrigo, CEPAC – Centro Padre Alves Correia, Movimento Claro, Just a Change and Pedalar sem Idade Portugal.

The activities carried out by the organisations in the area of social inequalities included mentoring children and young people from vulnerable social backgrounds through the Além do Manual project (SDG 4), the social inclusion of migrants through CEPAC projects (SDG 10) and food support for homeless people at national level provided by CASA (SDG 2).

Regarding sustainability, the impact of the Plstik Tower Project on the substantial reduction of waste production through the circular economy project (SDG 12); the way in which Just a Change rebuilds lives by renovating the homes of people in situations of social vulnerability (SDGs 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11) and the importance of Pedalar sem Idade Portugal in fighting stress, anxiety and depression in older people (SDG 3), were presented.

In addition to the sessions moderated by Rita Paiva e Pona, the Rector's Advisor for Social Responsibility and GRS Coordinator, and Clara Ribeiro, student at UCP's Institute for Political Studies and former trainee at the United Nations, there was also a networking moment, joined by the organisations: Ajuda de Mãe, Apoio à Vida, Irmãzinhas dos Pobres, Movimento Defesa da Vida, União Zoófila, Entrajuda and Associação Kelê.

Transforming Communities | Volunteer Insights for the SDG´s