On this page

1. Information providers

2. Key initiatives

Information providers

 The IPDJ, I.P. is responsible for managing the information and communication of the programmes and campaigns concerning youth volunteering, both for the programmes and volunteering actions promoted and/or encouraged by the institute and for those supported, or organised in partnership with it.

To that effect, the institute publicizes all volunteer work activities through its multi-channel communication system with young people, through:

• On-site information and counselling, available at the 53 Ponto JA Stores – 19 in the IPDJ and spread throughout the country (Youth Information Centres, one in each district capital and two in Lisbon), and also at the 28 Ponto JA Stores in partnership with city halls and youth associations;
• Online information, available on the National Youth Portal (since April 2020) through:
  • specific web pages about the volunteering programmes it manages, such as: Youth Volunteering Micro site; Now Us umbrella programme (Agora Nós);
  • Schedule News, in international and national agendas and in five regional agendas;
  • IPDJ Portal monthly newsletter;
  • Social networks: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.

Concerning European Solidarity Corps (SC) the National Agency for the Erasmus+ Youth in Action Programme is responsible for its dissemination in Portugal, through training actions, websites, guides and support to the sending and hosting organisations established in Portugal. The European Youth Portal publicises several European Solidariety Corps opportunities.

Key initiatives

Between 2010 and 2020, several specific promotion actions of the Youth Volunteering programmes have been carried out,  namely,promotional films for social networks and audio-visual media:

• Now Us (Agora Nós) 2016 YouTube film;
•    2019 Young volunteering for nature and forests film
•     2018 Young volunteering for nature and forests film
•     2013 International Volunteer Day film;

•     Three  films for the volunteer work promoting campaigns ‘Namorar com Fair Play‘ (Dating with Fair Play), ‘Quem Te Ama Não Te Agride‘ (A Person Who Loves You Does Not Harm You)  and Voluntariado Jovem | «Namorar com Fairplay | 2020» film 

• 70JA site. Youth Volunteering 70JA! - Youth Rights

•   Annual Summer Promotion campaign for Youth Volunteering for Nature and Forests 2019 «Young volunteering for nature and forests» film

•    Annual promotion campaign for  Programme. Naveg@s em Segurança - Youth Volunteer Scheme

•    Young volunteering in Summer Festivals and Educational and Training Fairs

•   2020 Young Volunteering Apoio Maior/Greator Support  - Community support for old people in isolation during the pandemic period  COVID-192020

• Films of good practices of youth associations In 2020, some youth associations made films for social networks about the Youth Volunteer Program for Nature and Forests, thus encouraging young people to participate in volunteer projects. The IPDJ used these films on its social media as an example of good practice.

- EcoGerminar Association | «Watch and Pedal 2.0» project

- The Interparochial Caritas of Castelo Branco | «Voice of Nature» Project

In 2020, some youth associations made films for social networks about the Youth Volunteer Program for Nature and Forests, thus encouraging young people to participate in volunteer projects. The IPDJ used these films on its social media as an example of good practice.

To that effect, specific raising awareness  campaigns for different target groups have also been developed, through mailing lists, launching actions and specific campaigns on social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, as well as through the Youth Portal’s newsletter, directly to approximately 62,000  subscribers. The campaigns were the following:

• Naveg@s em Segurança - Youth Volunteer Scheme is part of Naveg@s Program. The animators of “Naveg@s” sessions are young volunteers (from 18 to 30 years old) with some expertise in information and communication technologies and good communication skills.
• Dating with Fair Play (Namorar com Fair Play), among third cycle secondary schools, since those are voluntary actions taking place in these schools;
• Errands and Company (Recados e Companhia), mostly to young college/university students up to the age of 30;
• Associative volunteering (voluntariado associativo), among youth associations hosting young volunteers and with young people attending secondary and higher education;
• Z Generation
• Youth Voluntering for Nature and Forests
• Youth Volunteering 70JA!
• Volunteering in sports, developed in partnership with the IPDJ and the Portuguese Football, Rowing, Water Motorsports and Sailing Federations.

All these actions were specifically directed at young people aged between 16 and 30 years, since they have more availability and interest in these fields of action. These campaigns and projects were publicised on the Youth Portal, on Facebook and on Twitter, since 2010.

All these actions were specifically directed at young people aged between 16 and 30 years, since they have more availability and interest in these fields of action. These campaigns and projects were publicised on the Youth and IPDJ Portal, on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter, since 2010.

Promoted volunteering sectors and number of actions in 2010-2016-2020

From 2010 to 2016, 94 volunteering actions were promoted and disseminated on the Youth Portal.  From 2017-2020, 120 volunteering actions were promoted in the National Youth portal and in the IPDJ Portal in the following sectors:

•    Volunteering in sports – in events organised by the Portuguese Football, Rowing, Sailing Korfball, Rugby,  and Gymnastics Federations ;

•    Intergenerational volunteering;

•    Volunteering for animal protection;

•    Volunteering for road safety;

•    Associative volunteering – with youth associations registered in RNAJ (National Register of Youth Associations);

•    Volunteering for Internet security (awareness-raising sessions organised by youth volunteers with the support of the IPDJ);

•    Environmental volunteering – forest protection.

•    Volunteering in Summer Festivals and Educational and Training Fairs

•    Volunteering Apoio Maior/Greator Support  - Community support to old people in isolation during the pandemic period  COVID-19

Web communication

The role of web communication through IPDJ digital tools, namely Youth Portal and social media profiles, was essential to achieve the objectives of these actions and reach out to potential volunteers. Thus, in the period between 2010 and 2020:

- 223 news for national and international agendas have been published on the Youth Portal;

- 883 Facebook posts have been disseminated on social networks;

- 470 tweets haves been posted on Twitter;

- 122 instagram posts;

- Youth Portal’s newsletter – youth volunteering contents were inserted in nearly six numbers per year, representing a total of nearly 63 entries.