As part of the welcome activities for new undergraduate students, FCH-Católica organized an environmental volunteering activity at Praia da Mata, in Costa da Caparica, at the beginning of the new academic year, in partnership with Associação Bandeira Azul.

The initiative brought together students from FCH-Católica’s different undergraduate programs and faculty members for an afternoon dedicated to coastal preservation, including a beach clean-up and waste monitoring activity, followed by an analysis of the collected waste.

The activity was part of FCH Solidária – O Outro em Nós, a project created in 2017 that brings the academic community together each year for social responsibility initiatives, in collaboration with different institutions and organizations. This year, the environmental dimension was given particular emphasis, with FCH-Católica’s first partnership with Associação Bandeira Azul, through the project “Praia Mais Limpa Com…”.

In addition to its volunteering dimension, the activity provided students with an opportunity for learning and raising awareness about the preservation of coastal ecosystems, allowing them to gain a better understanding of the impact of waste on the coastline and the importance of monitoring it.

More than a volunteering activity, this was also a way of welcoming new students, providing them, from the very beginning of their journey at FCH-Católica, with an experience of participation, learning and commitment to the community.