This project started in 2019, in the form of a partnership invitation made by the Social Welfare Department of AEFMUL to the Faculty's GIE (Innovation and Entrepreneurship Office). The idea was to create an activity in the area of social entrepreneurship, in which FMUL students enrolled with the objective of creating a project in the social area and, over weeks, they would have training in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship. In the end, the winning project would receive a prize of 500 euros. This project was called ChangeMakers, and due to the great support it had in 2019, with excellent evaluation by all participants, this year it was decided to increase the level.
We considered that the exchange of experiences and knowledge among students from different schools was important. For that reason, AISEG, a student association of the Institute of Economics and Management of the University of Lisbon, was invited to be a partner in this project. Thus, we have students from both schools working together. Taking into account this new concept, the project's name was changed to Social Builders Academy, in the spirit of academy students supporting the construction of a more positive and better social world.
The results could not have been more exciting: we had 30 participants, 15 from each school, who over the course of several weeks were trained by more than 8 trainers from the most varied areas. They also had the opportunity to participate in the first edition of ChangeMinds - Conference on Social Entrepreneurship. This initiative had more than 130 participants, and was attended by social entrepreneurs from the most diverse areas, including the renowned Make a Wish and Cozinha com Alma, among others, who inspired us with their stories, dreams and successful projects.
In addition, several teams were formed along the way and 4 applied for projects to a panel (António Velha, president of AEFMUL, David Farinha, promoter of the first edition, Mafalda Chaves from AIESEG, Madalena Alexandra, best trainer, and Sónia Teixeira, manager at GIE, and one of the organizers of the SBA. They gave a pitch of their ideas and were open to questions and suggestions from the panel.
Of the four competing projects, the Green.period project was the winner, and was awarded the prize of 500 euros. In addition, taking into account the quality of all projects, the Social Builders Academy is also providing all projects with support in dissemination, mentoring meetings and logistical support.
Next month, we will announce the winning project and the others in more detail, but for now we leave the testimonials of the SBA - Social Builders Academy team:
It was certainly a challenge to try to bring together students from two different faculties in the same project, but the feedback we got leads me to believe that these types of bridges are essential to develop more innovative ideas that have a real impact on the community.
José Silva
Student of year 4 of the Integrated Master Degree in Medicine at FMUL
At the Social Builders Academy, participants are encouraged to create their own social entrepreneurship projects, giving them the necessary tools so that they themselves can be agents of change in the world. Being part of the organization of this project was very rewarding. It gave me the opportunity to be with colleagues who look at the world in a dreamy way and who are genuinely interested in leaving the world a little better than they found it. It was a pleasure to be able to give them the tools so that they can make this dream come true.
Maria Bolota
Student of year 4 of the Integrated Master Degree in Medicine at FMUL
It was two intense months in which, week after week, the participants were put to the test. As organizers, we witnessed not only enterprising, creative and bold minds, but also a lot of sensitivity, a sense of responsibility and cooperation. The SBA reinforced the idea that the future is in the hands of young people!
Pedro Lino
Year 3 student of the Degree in Economics at ISEG
The SBA was a project that highlighted the entrepreneurial power of young people. It is with pride that, as a member of the OC, I see that the SBA had impact on the lives of our students. Undoubtedly, the exchange of ideas by students in the field of economics and medicine was an asset and boosted innovation in the development of entrepreneurial projects.
Raquel Sousa
Year 3 student of the Degree in Economics at ISEG
Social entrepreneurship is an area for which I have the greatest affection and being in this project from the first day, as a trainer and mentor, gives me the honour to witness the great social awareness of our students. The Social Builders Academy supports and shows that, together, students from different areas are able to create fantastic projects with an impact on society and people, fostering a better world. It is inspiring and enriching to be able to be part of this journey.
Sónia Teixeira
Manager at GIE, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Office at FMUL
Sónia Teixeira
Editorial Team