Universidade Católica Students Depart on Mission to Cape Verde

Four students from Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto Campus, have embarked on a volunteer mission to Cape Verde. They are headed to Santiago Island, bringing with them not only their experiences but also the four pillars that support GAS África: simplicity, prayer, service, and community.

In Santiago, the volunteers will participate in educational activities for children and teenagers, focusing on topics such as self-awareness, values, health, and hygiene. For adults, the training will emphasize developing interpersonal relationships and enhancing group interaction. With the elderly, the focus will be on supporting healthcare units by promoting physical, cognitive, creative, recreational, and cultural activities, as well as therapeutic and relaxing initiatives aimed at holistic well-being.

“Year after year, GAS África embarks on its mission. New steps emerge, new faces, new smiles, and curious eyes seeking discovery and understanding,” says Constança Barbosa, coordinator of Católica Solidária (CASO), the volunteer program at Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto. She adds, “There is a longing to live, a desire to grasp what lies ahead, and excitement in the face of the unknown.”

On July 15th, the chapel at Católica in Porto hosted a Sending Mass for the GAS África missionaries, celebrated by chaplain Father José Pedro Azevedo. It was a moment of reflection and celebration.

GAS África was founded in 1989 and is the Social Action Group in Africa from the Porto Campus, part of the UDIP (Unit for the Integral Development of the Person).