Embaixada da Juventude

description of organisation

Embaixada da Juventude (EJ) is a dynamic non profit youth organization that initiates and implements local projects of the positive social impact, particularly in the field of social inclusion and whereas young people have a central role. It was established in 2015 as a successor to the Morpheus award project, an initiative on the rural side of Paredes to study the needs of the youngsters.
As a fruitful outcome, EJ, creates local initiatives aiming to bypass the urban division and provide a fulfilling and productive life for the youngsters.
Currently EJ has 3 main areas of activity: project management, social entrepreneurship and active citizenship.

Project management: EJ has a central role in cultural projects and helps young creative people to realize their full potential. EJ is convinced that the development of a sense of ambassador in each young person could improve the well-being and quality of life of them, increase the opportunities for success and self-fulfillment, as well as for the community.
EJ organizes the Youth Lab Challenge, a theatrical performance that aims to increase participants' self-empowerment and self-esteem.
EJ helps youngsters with fewer opportunities to participate in projects abroad through Erasmus+. Erasmus training helps the youngsters to enhance employability and transition into the labour market. Erasmus youth exchanges help the participants to bypass xenophobia, break down stereotypes and increase intercultural awareness. Their participation offers the spin off effect of increased motivation for further engagement in solidarity activities. Erasmus+ projects helps our youth workers understand better the European projects and the EU common values.

Active citizenship: EJ offers training of non-formal education to schools to boost soft skills, active citizenship and address societal challenges. EJ is a Duolingo ambassador the largest language learning platform in the world with over 300 million users. There are weekly gatherings with provided material to practice and exchange english and french speaking between active learners and immigrants.
EJ is a workaway host for international volunteers who offer a couple of hours per week labour work in exchange for accommodation and food. Our projects help retired local producers that don’t have the vitality and energy they once had to take care of their land and collect its products. This is a great opportunity for the volunteers to gain practical skills on how to take care of the land, monetize the products and produce wine.
EJ organizes weekly gatherings to improve skills and competences for personal, educational, social, civic, cultural and professional development. Fridays for Future brings local actors to discuss in a non-formal way about start-ups, event management or environment. The senior’s cafe is organized every Sunday to help the elderly have a more social life and escape the trap of isolation. The elderly can play board games, share recipes, cook together and do embroidery in a relaxed atmosphere. Collective Wednesdays brings together the youth to play boardgames, share skills and knowledge to learn 20 new things in 20 weeks.
With the monthly meetings "Embaixada dá-te asas" for inclusion, politics, sexuality, finance, immigration and environment, the youngsters develop a more critical thinking and achieve a more active participation in democratic life and society. Currently is creating "Music on Wheels", an international project with the aim of giving voice to young people through the use of hip hop music and breakdance to attract the attention of decision-makers.

Social Entrepreneurship: EJ is a social entrepreneurship support center which facilitates workshops for companies to incorporate social entrepreneurship into their businesses. Boosts the sustainability of local producers by organizing fairs to sell and promote their products. EJ is a mentoring and coaching hub for entrepreneurs through the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs network. Young professionals can come from abroad to job shadow and form partnerships with the potential of future collaboration with EJ. EJ assists in writing business projects which are ideal for people with an appetite for initiative and entrepreneurship but with no experience in business studies. Functions as training provider for young entrepreneurs on how to improve their marketing and sales strategies.

Moreover EJ has a comprehensive list of local collaborators from municipalities, professional schools, Agriculture Cooperative of Paredes, the University of Porto with the potential of developing socio-educational activities. Occasionally, the organization is present at local radio stations, newspapers and television, explaining how it is to be a youngster nowadays. Linked to that, EJ encourages youth engagement with great achievements and performances at national competitions and sends delegates to juvenile fairs to disseminate the organization results.