It was on Friday, the 20th, that we visited various equipment of the program Cultura Social. This first round has 272 volunteers. In total, the program counts more than 400 young people who dedicate their summer days to help.

In order to promote the leisure time of young people during the non-school period in a healthy way, to contribute to personal development and foster community spirit and solidarity through proximity to local realities, this program also aims to develop citizenship active, apply the creative and dynamic potential of young people, as well as support non-profit entities that are based or that carry out their activities in the municipality of Cascais and contribute to its viability.

With areas of action scattered among social support, heritage, civil protection and cultural animation, many of the volunteers we talked to said that their intention to enroll in this summer volunteer program was to make a difference in society and with the areas where they habituate. Many had already attended the places where they are now volunteering, which enables them to have an even more intense relationship with the staff and the children they have helped take care of. Inês, for example, is 19 years old and volunteers at the Community Center of Carcavelos and chose this program because she loves children very much and because she wanted to have an experience with them. Catarina and Carolina, on the other hand, volunteer at Lar da Bafureira and chose this entity because they wanted to be part of the daily life of the elderly and to give them more happy moments.

Together with those responsible for the organizations, we also realize that our young volunteers have really made a difference, whether it is to encourage children in the holiday camps, to help the elderly and to give them more reasons to smile and more activities.

If you are like our young people, who have a huge desire to change and contribute to a happier and more harmonious community, do not forget to go along with everything they are doing in our social networks. If you have not registered yet this year, take inspiration from them so that next year your name will not be missing in the list!