EDP Foundation invests in 13 new social projects that will support more than 6,000 people | Fundação EDP

EDP Foundation invests in 13 new social projects that will support more than 6,000 people

vencedores 2024
Vencedores do EDP Energia Solidária 2024. Fotografia: Paulo Alexandre Coelho

Through the EDP Solidarity Energy Programme, the EDP Foundation will support 13 new projects to generate social responses through energy efficiency solutions, renewable energies, energy inclusion, circular economy, protection of natural heritage and biodiversity, and sustainable mobility. These projects aim to improve the quality of life of people who are vulnerable and/or at risk of social exclusion: families facing food insecurity, senior citizens facing social isolation, the unemployed, victims of domestic violence, and people with disabilities.

These new projects are expected to have a direct positive impact on the lives of more than 6,000 people in 13 districts across the country: Beja, Braga, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisbon, Portalegre, Porto, Vila Real and Viseu.

The support is awarded under the EDP Solidarity Energy Programme 2024 and represents an investment of around 1 million euros in Portugal. In addition to the funding, the EDP Foundation has mobilised a group of 15 social incubators to collaborate with the organisations in preparing their applications. Winners will also receive the support of volunteers from the EDP group in implementing the projects.

‘Mobilising and strengthening the social ecosystem is fundamental to ensuring a fair, inclusive and participatory energy transition. This year, as we celebrate 20 years of the EDP Solidarity programme, we have decided to collaborate even more closely with the applicants, helping them to structure innovative and sustainable solutions to complex social challenges. We firmly believe that collaboration helps us grow in relevance and impact, something that is reflected in the quality of the social responses that these 13 new projects aim to generate,’ says Vera Pinto Pereira, president of the EDP Foundation.

Alongside Vera Pinto Pereira, the EDP Solidarity Energy 2024 jury also included António Vidigal (energy consultant and former chairman of EDP Inovação), Filipe Santos (dean of the Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics and chairman of the EDP Foundation Board of Trustees), Joana Balsemão (councillor at Cascais City Council and member of the EDP Foundation Board of Trustees), Júlia Seixas (pro-rector of Universidade Nova Lisboa, specialising in Sustainability), Margarida Couto (partner at Vieira de Almeida e Associados and member of the EDP Foundation Board of Trustees) and Martim Salgado (director of EDP's Social Impact Coordination Office and administrator of the EDP Foundation).

The EDP Solidarity Energy programme was first set up in 2004 and has supported 430 projects in each of the country's districts, benefiting around 1.5 million people. It represents an investment of some 19 million euros. In 2023, it took on a multi-geographical dimension, becoming geared towards supporting social projects that promote the fair energy transition in Portugal, Spain and Brazil.

Fotodesidratação, e então?

Entity
Casa da Família - Associação de Solidariedade Social do Acipreste 

Coverage
Leiria, Alcobaça

Partners
Évora Parish Council, Refood - Alcobaça

Description
A circular economy project that aims to combat food waste and provide food security for vulnerable families. A network will be set up to collect surplus fruit from local farmers at peak times and then process it using a solar dehydrator. The dehydrated fruit will be distributed to vulnerable families through the food basket delivery service.

 

Clubes UP

Entity
1000Rostos Associação de Ação Social 

Coverage
Vila Real and Viseu, Armamar, Alijó e Sabrosa

Partners
Associação Bagos d'Ouro

Description
Training and inclusion project through the circular economy using textile waste and raising awareness of conscious consumption with different target groups in more isolated areas. Three sewing clubs will be set up, where reuse and circular economy workshops will be organised both for unemployed women over 45 and for children and young people in situations of socio-economic vulnerability. In addition to these workshops, training and dissemination activities will be organised for third sector workers and students.

 

 

Ciclopes liberta a corrente

Entity
Drive Impact crl

Coverage
Lisboa, Lisboa

Partners
Associação Jangada do Mundo

Description
This project is an expansion of an initiative focused on the mobility of young people in contexts of exclusion and uses the ‘learning by doing’ methodology. It includes: bicycle building and repair workshops; experimental solar panel workshops; sustainable heater workshops; field trips and bike rides. The aim is to provide mobility options, especially for young people, as well as to promote sustainable choices in the area of domestic heating.

 

Gigantes Verdes

Entity
VERDE - Associação para a Conservação Integrada da Natureza

Coverage
Guarda and Porto, Fornos de Algodres, Manteigas, Sabugal, Seia, Felgueiras, Gondomar, Lousada, Paços de Ferreira, Paredes, Penafiel and Valongo

Partners
Municipality of Lousada, Ader-Sousa - Associação de Desenvolvimento Rural das Terras do Sousa and the municipalities of Gondomar, Valongo, Sabugal and Fornos de Algodres

Description
A citizen science project that involves the training of 100 ‘ambassadors’ who are responsible for mapping and compiling information on Green Giants (the name given to trees with a trunk circumference of more than 1.5 metres, which provide shelter for multiple living beings and have a greater capacity to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere). The data collected will be made available on a shared and accessible platform, which will make it possible to calculate the ecosystem services provided by the trees and produce reports on the natural values inventoried. The model was tested in the Lousada region in 2018.

 

Verd’o Parque Learning Labs: a energia e a sustentabilidade na ótica da economia circular

Entity
UC Exploratório - Centro Ciência Viva da Universidade de Coimbra

Coverage
Coimbra, Coimbra

Partners
Associação Portuguesa de Pais e Amigos do Cidadão Deficiente Mental (APPACDM de Coimbra)

Description
Literacy project for the population, especially young and vulnerable people (disabled population), through the development of three labs that promote the transition to renewable energies and a more sustainable and circular economy in the Mondego Green Park, with the support of specialist volunteers. Workshops will be held in the ‘smart lighting lab’, with a guided visit of smart lampposts, the construction of renewable energy kits, and the holding of debates; Workshops in the ‘solar oven lab’, where people cook and experiment with food cooked in a solar oven; Workshops in the ‘Repair Café lab’, which provides tools for repairing/reusing/re-adapting objects or equipment.

Joyeux Energy on-the-go!

Entity
Associação VilacomVida

Coverage
Faro, Lisboa and Porto, Olhão ,Tavira, Vila Real de Santo António, Cascais, Lisboa, Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia

Partners
Joyeux Portugal, unipessoal, Lda.

Description
Creation of a travelling sales programme for ‘Joyeux products’ with an electric van supported by solar panels. The focus of the Joyeux Association and cafés is to promote the social inclusion of young-adults with intellectual and developmental difficulties by creating employment opportunities. With this street vending project, the association will be able to increase the number of beneficiaries and customers. The project includes training sessions on energy sustainability for beneficiaries and employees.

 

ECAS - Economia, Compostagem, Água e Sustentabilidade
 

Entity
Escola Profissional de Desenvolvimento Rural de Alter do Chão

Coverage
Portalegre, Alter do Chão

Partners
Tertuliatroféu

Descrição
Project for the efficient use of water and the exploitation of organic by-products at a professional rural development school.
The following activities are planned: Implementation of a system for sustainable water management, with the reuse of water from the horse showers (around 65 horses=3250 litres/day) for watering the vegetable garden and washing the livestock facilities; Rainwater collection system, with the installation of gutters on the buildings; Transformation of horse manure into organic matter enriched with the water stored from the horse showers.

 

 

ENERGIA 100 ID@DE

Entity
Santa Casa Da Misericórdia De Ponte De Sôr

Coverage
Portalegre, Ponte de Sôr

Description
Installation of a gerontological physiotherapy gym, favouring the use of energy-generating equipment with rechargeable batteries and using virtual and augmented reality as a motivational factor and to disseminate the importance of a just energy transition. The project also includes intergenerational activities such as workshops on the subject of exercise for families, the elderly and children; an intergenerational challenge; and an environmental education programme for pre-school children.

 

É + Capaz (Energia + Capaz) 

Entity
Associação Centro Ciência Viva de Proença-a-Nova

Coverage
Castelo Branco, Proença-a-Nova

Partners
Agrupamento de Escolas de Proença-a-Nova

DescriptionThe main aim of the project is to provide a useful, educational and therapeutic occupation for young people with special needs and mild to moderate mental disabilities.
 Training, awareness-raising and capacity-building activities on energy efficiency and organic production of aromatic plants are planned, creating a saleable product with the ‘É capaz’ brand, bringing together schoolchildren and adults with special needs.

 

 

On Road!

Entity
Associação Desportiva Cultural e Social de Carvalhais

Abrangência
Bragança, Brangança, Macedo de Cavaleiros and Mirandela

Partners
Carvalhais Parish Council, Carvalhais/Mirandela Professional School of Agriculture and Rural Development

Description
A project aimed at the elderly and students that promotes an integrated mobility concept in an isolated parish in Trás-os-Montes that lost its public transport services in 2018. It proposes a mobility solution through the purchase of a 9-seater electric car, 10 individual electric bikes, and 2 electric cargo bikes with 2 additional seats. It is designed to cater for the two main populations living in this town, the elderly and boarding students from the Carvalhais Professional School of Agriculture and Rural Development.

 

Eco-Circular Route

Entity
CERCI Braga

Coverage
Braga, Amares, Braga and Vila Verde

Partners
Portuguese Red Cross - Braga Delegation, Municipality of Braga

Description
The project's main objective is to combat the exclusion (social, economic and professional) of people with disabilities. It develops activities for this population in 3 areas: Circular Economy, with the creation of a second-hand clothes PopUp (generating income for the beneficiaries) and awareness-raising activities for conscious consumption and energy efficiency, with the implementation of measures such as replacing the window frames in the transition and inclusion residences; Mobility, with the acquisition of an electric vehicle to transport users.

 

CAIS Recicla

Entity
CAIS - Associação de Solidariedade Social

Coverage
Porto, Porto

Partners
Filinto Mota, Câmara Municipal do Porto e ESAD LIPOR

Description
Project to expand the current intervention of the CAIS Recicla Project (upcycling project) over three dimensions: creation of a new product line to generate more sales; increase in operational capacity through the acquisition of an electric vehicle; diversification of CAIS Recicla's offer through a training pilot on the circular economy for children aged between 8 and 10. The purchase of the electric vehicle will serve the association's day-to-day activities and the circular economy workshops for children aged 8 to 10.

 

EcoComunidade Guadiana: sustentabilidade em movimento, transformando desafios em oportunidades.

Entity
Alsud, Cooperativa de Ensino e Formação Profissional do Alengarve, CIPRL

Coverage
Beja, Mértola

Partners
Alsud, Cooperativa de Ensino e Formação Profissional do Alengarve, Municipality of Mértola, Guadiana Football Club

Description
This project will purchase an electric passenger car (9 seats) and 6 electric bicycles adapted to the terrain for use in practical classes, and aims to create an educational and environmental trail at CAMPUS with a digital exploration and orientation leaflet about the trail and organise events to promote the natural heritage of the Guadiana Valley Natural Park.

Evento EDP Energia Solidária 2024

Fotografias: Paulo Alexandre Coelho

14 Nov 2024