In 2014, The Students Union of the (AAUAv), established the goal of bringing the academic community closer to the Region of Aveiro and its residents, and with that, the project Aveiro ¨¦ Nosso (directly translated to Aveiro is Ours), was restructured and given a new life.
This project and its goals evolved as years went by. Starting off with its own structure and members, it eventually grew to become an established sector of the Students Union. As of now, Aveiro ¨¦ Nosso is considered to be the social and environmental responsibility sector of AAUAv, formed by one vice-president and two members, with the help of over 20 collaborators.
Apoio ao Estudo and Legacy
Aveiro ¨¦ Nosso has now been leaving a crucial mark in the city of Aveiro for the past 10 years. Its early days saw the creation of large volunteering projects such as Apoio ao Estudo (Study Support) and DinneIn. Apoio ao Estudo was an initiative for university students to help children in diverse areas of study, while DinneIn was created during the pandemic and delivered assistance to Aveiro residents by having volunteers bring groceries and food to their doors.
Now as a sector of our Students Union, since 2022 Aveiro ¨¦ Nosso has been managing a volunteering space in one of the neighborhoods of Aveiro to further this connection to the city. Over various mandates many activities have been organized there, such as workshops, cultural demonstrations and so on. However it wasn¡¯t until December 2023 that this space, called Loja VOL, became home to a new project called Tutores Por Amor (Tutors For Love), an adaptation of the late Apoio ao Estudo specifically targeting children of families in need. With this project, as with many others, the aim is to elevate Loja VOL to become a referencing point for the students, as well as for the community of Aveiro.
Aveiro of Everyone
One of the university¡¯s main objectives was to start carrying out more frequent volunteering activities as a team which really made a difference in the lives of others. Thus, the new Aveiro de Todos (Aveiro of Everyone) sub-project was born, with its starting point being a collaboration within the community to prepare and distribute meals to the homeless. Once every month during this mandate, the team will come together and participate in these symbolic but very enriching volunteering moments.
Feira da Alameda
One of the most visible activities at our institution is Feira da Alameda (the Alameda Fair), held every six months on the university's main campus. During the day of the fair, local traders are invited to present and sell their products or second-hand items, alongside students and anyone else who wants to sell handmade and sustainable products, with the aim of bringing the local community closer to the academy. In addition, fun and cultural moments are integrated, with the presence of talented artists from the University of Aveiro, in order to create a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere.
Aveiro ¨¦ Nosso, as mentioned above, also focuses on bringing sustainability to the association, while promoting it to all the communities it represents and aids. Thus, we highlight two huge projects our sector organized during the last mandate, which it aims to turn into established yearly activities:
Climate Change Forum
In partnership with the University of Aveiro, the first Climate Change Forum took place. An event that included various presentations, debates and practical workshops on topics such as climate change, decarbonisation measures at company level, and biodiversity. It was also part of one of the seminars celebrating the AAUAv's 45th anniversary, entitled "Sustainability and the Environment. What kind of world awaits us?", given by Professor Jorge Paiva. This initiative had a very positive impact on the community and was attended by students from various areas, researchers and teachers.
Recycling Initiative
During the academic weeks, the university promoted dynamics designed to boost sustainability in periods of intense activity. One of the initiatives with the greatest impact, held in October 2023, was the campaign to collect glass bottles and plastic shot cups, in which the Nucleus that contributed with the most bottles and cups was given an award for most sustainable. In addition, giant bins were placed at the entrance of the venue with the phrase "Aim and recycle", providing students with a fun activity while contributing to the preservation of the environment and collective well-being.
With both these initiatives the university was able to collect 25.8 kg of plastic bottles, 75 kg of plastic cups and 910 kg of glass bottles throughout the four nights of concerts.
Bairro Feliz Contest
Finally, one of the university¡¯s biggest recent achievements was winning the Bairro Feliz contest, an initiative promoted by Pingo Doce, where the best cause would win up to 1000€ to help fund it. The proposed project was to paint the walls of the pediatric ward at the Baixo Vouga Hospital Centre, previously plain gray. Since winning the contest in December, the university is working towards its concretization, having stated as the starting date March 18th.
In a world where environmental awareness is becoming ever more urgent, and volunteering ever more necessary, the University of Aveiro feels that Aveiro ¨¦ Nosso is the start of change. Every action taken helps to put a smile on someone's face and make the world a little bit better. Hence, with the help and collaboration of the students of the University of Aveiro and the willingness and interest of the residents of Aveiro, we hope to unite these communities and together, contribute to a greater good.
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