A student of 2nd year of Law and ADE Analitics at Comillas Pontifical University tells us about...

"In the case of the Porto project, the opportunity to have experience in three projects in different areas at the same time stood out, since I felt that it could enrich my personal training and help me discover in which volunteer work I can be most useful. I have learned that marginalization does not distinguish age or ethnicity. That the people I have interacted with could achieve standard levels of social integration, but from the beginning they start from a situation that presents them with many more obstacles than many of them can face, especially if they do not have help. Likewise, I noticed that their reality did not prevent them from finding happiness in mundane things. Finally, I was able to see firsthand the capacity of people to be fully generous.  

Volunteering in Porto has been an incredible experience, with wonderful children that I will never forget, in a beautiful city and with magnificent companions. I am very grateful and it has given me a lot." 

The selected volunteers will work and participate in activities in three centers:

1. Caritas - support for individuals and families at risk of social exclusion. Social care, support and follow-up to meet basic needs, fight against hunger and poverty, welcome, care and social support to families in situations of social vulnerability, support to frail and lonely people and promotion of health and well-being throughout life.  Volunteers will support in the social closet: organizing clothes and helping in the social store. 

2. António Cândido Center - home for children and youth. Center that supports children at risk of exclusion who have been removed from their families by the courts. Volunteers will support in the summer camp and in the organization of recreational activities.  

3. Porta Solidária - Catholic Church institution that provides meals to homeless and vulnerable families. They require support in the preparation and delivery of meal kits to homeless people, children and vulnerable families. Volunteers will prepare and serve meals to homeless people. 

Schedule: to be confirmed but about 8 hours a day.

Children at risk of exclusion who have been separated from their families by a court. Homeless people, children and vulnerable families. 

All students selected for the VUELA program will receive common training for participation in volunteer activities. 

Consult YOUR UNIVERSITY in the following links for training dates, location and conditions.  Don't forget to mark them in your calendar. This training is mandatory and is part of the project. 

The on-site accompaniment will be carried out by the organization itself throughout the project. The welcome to Oporto and the follow-up of any incident will be supported by the reference person of the Catholic University of Portugal, Oporto Campus.

Volunteers will be accommodated either in the university residence or in the Pilgrims' Hostel. Each volunteer will have to contribute individually an equal amount to the common bag to cover the costs of accommodation and food. The amounts will be communicated prior to arrival, as well as the method of payment. 

Information on the possibility and conditions of financial support for these concepts can be found below, by consulting YOUR UNIVERSITY:

The student is responsible for arranging and paying for transportation to the intervention site, and must inform the project's reference university of the date and time of arrival at least 15 days in advance.

Catholic University of Portugal-Oporto (Costança Barbosa)