Lifeshaker - Associação

description of organisation

Lifeshaker - Association its a youth organization, recognized by IPDJ (Portugal Institute for youth
and sport), strategic partner in regular support by several funding programs. Founded in 2009, its
main objective is the promotion of culture and recreation as means of non-formal education,
targeting the young population living in disadvantaged neighborhoods of the Municipality of
Almada. We develop educational projects in the field of Art, Sport and Citizenship - promoters of
healthy lifestyles as the basis for development of positive and enriching life projects. Often we
organize initiatives such as meetings, trainings, debates and seminars, dedicated to relevant topics
such as Human Rights and Gender Equality, stimulating opportunities for youth participation
focused on involving solidarity concerning causes and values, counting for this purpose with the
support of entities such as the CIG (National Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality) and
the CNJ (Youth National Council). Support for informal groups of young people is also frequent,
highlighting the activities developed with a group of young girls, which resulted in a virtual
campaign to raise awareness of gender equality and opportunities, materialized in the viral
dissemination of a video of digital animation, as well as mentoring and support to a group of young
Roma. It is relevant to our participation in moments and debates oriented to youth policies, both at
the local level (member entity of the Municipal Youth Forum, Municipal Forum for Gender Equality,
Municipal Forum for Migrants Integration) and at national level (Entity consulted by the National
Youth Council in the field of Health, Sports and Employment), as well as the representation and
action in the framework of the Commission for the Protection of Children and Young People of
Almada. In 2015, Lifeshaker was one of five National Entities selected by the National Youth
Council for ambassadors of the Structured Dialogue, consistently participating in consultations of
the Council of Europe. We also share experience in projects promoted by the High Commission for
Migration, either as a consortium partner (Programe Escolhas Pontual - Oval Jobs E5G, 2015) or
as a management entity (FAPE - Yes! 2015 / FAPE - ROMA + / Programe Escolhas Pontual -
Upgrading Participation E6G; 2017-2018). We are actively involved in youth mobility programs,
notably the presence at the World Forum on Democracy (Strasbourg, 2015) and the Training
Program for the Mobility of Inclusive Youth Associations (Helsinki, 2015), as well as the selection of
5 young Lifeshaker associates for the "Yo! Fest 2016 "- the largest European youth meeting
promoted by the European Youth Forum. The promotion and dissemination of good practices is a
ensign of the association, characterized by the promotion of values such as ethics, equality,
solidarity and tolerance, having already been distinguished locally (Young Talents Award - Almada
Cidade Educadora - 2013), such as National (Youth Award for Equality - 2012, Good Practices in
Associations Award - 2014, Sport and Youth for Development Award - 2015 and Montepio
Foundation Youth Volunteer Award - 2015). We are committed to minimizing the impact of social
exclusion on children and young people with less opportunities through their participation in
multiple areas of society, with the aim of facilitating access to rights, environments, spaces and
opportunities that development of individual capabilities, as well as maximizing the knowledge and
skills of young people, attributing to them the leading role in building their inclusive path in parallel
with exploring their potential to positively change their community, making it more active and
resilient. In parallel to the idealization and implementation of projects, are in our inherent practices
the values of justice, equality and democracy, believing that through its transmission, an
associative atmosphere is reinforced where cooperation and solidarity between the actors, a strong
collective benefit.