The Portuguese Catholic University will celebrate the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development with various initiatives, including the launch of a podcast, the publication of a commemorative e-book, and the organization of themed conferences and debates, according to a press release.
According to the same source, tomorrow marks the premiere of the podcast “PodMudar,” which invites listeners to discover the transformative power of volunteering through the stories and journeys of those who live it firsthand. Featuring as protagonists students and alumni of Católica, across eight episodes, topics such as social inclusion and the fight against poverty, education and empowerment of children and youth, health and well-being, environmental sustainability, migrations and integration, civic participation and social responsibility, and community development will be addressed, reflecting the impact of volunteering on the academic, professional, and personal paths of the participants.
Based on narratives and experiences and learning, the conversations of the “PodMudar” podcast reveal how small gestures can generate meaningful changes in the lives of other people, in communities and in the volunteers themselves, and highlight how volunteering is a force for human development and for building a more sustainable future.
“The focus of PodMudar will always be to show how volunteering contributes to transforming realities and to the development of skills, values and a sense of social responsibility,” says the head of the Office of Social Responsibility at the Portuguese Catholic University, Rita Paiva e Pona.
The episodes of PodMudar will be published weekly, always on Thursdays, and will be available on Spotify and on Rádio Renascença’s podcast platform, which is a partner and supporter of this initiative.
To mark this International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, a commemorative e-book will also be published, bringing together testimonies, reflections, and inspiring stories from members of the academic community who participated in volunteer experiences.
The program of celebrations, promoted by the volunteering programs of the four campuses of the Portuguese Catholic University – VIDA – Volunteerism at Católica (Lisbon), VIDA – Volunteering at Católica (Lisbon), CASO – Catholic Solidarity (Porto), Voluntaria*Te (Braga) and Ready to Help (Viseu) – also includes conferences and thematic debates to be held at the four locations, providing moments of sharing and reflection on the role of volunteering in building more sustainable, inclusive and supportive communities.
“At a moment when social and environmental challenges require collective responses, we believe that volunteering is a true school of citizenship. These actions seek to value the stories of those who place people at the center, create positive references for students and for the community, and reinforce the Catholic University’s commitment to holistic human development,” adds Rita Paiva e Pona.
She also notes that “this initiative fits within the Portuguese Catholic University’s commitment to the integral formation of its students, anchored in service to others and to communities. By valuing volunteer experiences and civic participation, it contributes to strengthening a university culture oriented toward service, solidarity, and the common good, in line with the University’s mission and with the Sustainable Development Goals.”
