In a world in constant acceleration, a conscience and an active voice for social change are more and more imperative. In order to try to better understand the current situation, the multiple crises we face and above all ways of acting for change in this context, the Academia de Ativismo (Activism Academy) launched an online public debate on the theme The World we have and the World we want – Actions and Voices of Alert on June 25th at 5:30pm.
The opening session was attended by Marco Domingues from Associação Animar, Reinhard Naumann from Fundação Friedrich Ebert Portugal and Zélia Duarte from EcoGerminar, and will be moderated by Mónica Santos Silva from IMVF.
It was followed by a debate moderated by Aline Flor, journalist at Público, with Ana Santos Pinto from the NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mónica Ferro from UNFPA – United Nation Population Fund and Susana Fonseca from ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável.
The session was broadcasted live on the Facebook page of the Academia de Ativismo, from 5:30pm to 7pm.
The Academia de Ativismo with the motto “From Inspiration to Action” is an initiative of Animar – Portuguese Association for Local Development, Friedrich Ebert Portugal Foundation and EcoGerminar Association, with the support of the European Solidarity Corps and the Portugal 2020 Social Inclusion and Employment Operational Programme, within the scope of the Capacity to Act as a Network project. It also has the support of IMVF through the #GoEAThical campaign, funded by the European Union and Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language, I.P. (Portuguese Cooperation), which will support the development of participants’ ideas (CHALLENGE).
The Academia de Ativismo will run from June 25th to July 10th and its main objective is to raise awareness and train young adults for activism and active participation in their communities, in defence of local and global causes. It is expected to be a space for training and activism of causes, where the experiences of activists and social entrepreneurs can enhance the development of transformative ideas for our society, in the different thematic areas under discussion: Environment and Climate Change, Ethnic-Racial Discrimination and Migrant Rights, Feminism, Housing and Right to the City and Participation and European Citizenship.
99 applications were received for a total of 31 vacancies, from young people between 19 and 25 years of age, from municipalities such as Lisbon, Palmela, Santarém, Porto, Castelo Branco, Braga, Viana do Castelo, Paços de Ferreira, Marco de Canaveses, Lagos, Portimão, Sines and Estremoz. The selection criteria were made public during the application opening phase and priority was given to the territory, diversity, interest and motivation.
The activists who will share their experiences are 14 young people, mostly linked to activism initiatives and movements, with very diverse experiences in the following areas:
- Housing: António Bello;
- Right to the City: Claraluz Keiser;
- Environment and Climate Change: Diogo Silva and Francesco Rocca;
- Feminism: Ana Bragança, Tila Cappelletto, Carolina Salgueiro Pereira, Catarina Marques Rodrigues;
- Ethnic-Racial Discrimination and Migrant Rights: Anabela Rodrigues and Janice Fernandes, Hugo Menino, Miguel Duarte and Vittoria Catalfamo;
- Participation: Bruno António.