Countries, Encounters and Inclusion:
A Journey of Shared Humanity
Are you looking to make a real-world impact? Join this unique collaboration between IPCA and Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Barcelos.
In this program, you won’t just volunteer-you’ll lead. Working in creative teams, you’ll design and implement activities that bring together children and the elderly, breaking down cultural and linguistic barriers through the power of play and non-formal education.
This LEXS is a collaborative initiative promoted by IPCA and Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Barcelos (SCMB), designed to bridge academic knowledge with real-world social intervention. The programme offers international students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a practical volunteering experience aligned with SCMB's social mission. Grounded in the principles of inclusion and diversity, the LEXS fosters a "shared inclusion" environment where volunteers and the community interact as equals, promoting intercultural dialogue and the sharing of human values across different generations and backgrounds.
Working in small teams, participants will take on the creative challenge of designing and implementing intercultural activities or games tailored for both children (ages 3–6) and the elderly. The core objective is to promote intergenerational interaction and break down cultural and linguistic barriers through non-formal education. By engaging with various social responses within the institution, volunteers will develop essential soft skills-including teamwork, empathy, and time management-while gaining a deeper understanding of social vulnerability and contributing to a more humane and inclusive society.
Don’t miss this opportunity to transform lives, including your own!
Apply now to grow your skills and leave a lasting mark on the Barcelos community!
13th of July 2026 to 24th of July 2026
English
The host institution will issue a Certificate of Participation, as well as a Transcript of Records.
University students from RUN-EU or partner institutions who are motivated to engage in volunteering and community service, particularly with children and elderly.
Open to all academic backgrounds, participants should be ready to:
- Actively join the face-to-face activities
- Collaborate with the partner organization staff and follow their rules and proccedures
- Commit to the full programme duration
This programme is perfect for students eager to develop leadership, teamwork, and intercultural skills through hands-on volunteering experience.
Programme at a glance
• Presentation of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Barcelos (SCMB) and the value of volunteering
• Welcoming and integration activities
• Presentation of LEXS and its objectives
• Organization of small groups
• Beginning of activity planning
• Lunch
14 and 15 of July 2026 (09h00 -14h00) - Design and Planning
• Groups organization & definition of the activties' objectives
• Structuring and defining materials
• Designing activities and games to be implemented in the target groups
• Lunch
16 and 17 of July 2026 (09h00 -14h00) – Implementation (Children’s Area)
• Implementation of activities and games with children
• Hands on – Volunteering (support to the routines of the early childhood units of SCMB)
• Lunch
There will be 2 hours of students’ autonomous work for additional preparation of activities to be implemented.
• Implementation of activities and games with children
• Hands on – Volunteering (support to the routines of the early childhood units of SCMB)
• Lunch
21 and 22 of July 2026 (09h00 -14h00) – Implementation (Elderly Area)
• Implementation of activities and games with elderly
• Hands on – Volunteering (support to the routines of the elderly units of SCMB)
• Lunch
23 of July 2026 (09h00 -14h00)
• Presentation of the Volunteering project “Side-by-side”
• Hands on – Volunteering (Baskets + "Solidarity Fashion")
• Lunch
24 of July 2026 (09h00 -14h00)
• Reflection on the learning experience
• Suggestions and improvements
• Final activity “My meaning of volunteering”
• Lunch
There will be 3 hours of students’ autonomous work for additional preparation of activities to be implemented and 1 hour for preparation of final reflections and activity.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this Learner Exchange School, learners will be able to:
Students shall be able to identify external and internal factors (economic, cultural, systemic, etc.) that may create or exacerbate vulnerability within specific populations, such us children and elderly.
This learning outcome focuses on the ability to move beyond a "one-size-fits-all" approach to communication. It emphasizes cultural humility and flexibility, ensuring that social interventions are inclusive, respectful, and effective across diverse populations. Considering this, it is expected that by the end of the LEXS students can develop awareness of how cultural backgrounds, values, and worldviews influence behavior and perception and to pivot verbal and non-verbal style (tone, body language, directness) to align with the cultural norms of the specific groups, such as children and elderly.
This learning outcome will focus on three main contents:
- Empathetic Communication (going from mere sympathy to truly understand and validate the emotional state of the beneficiaries). It involves expressing care in a way that makes the individual feel "seen" and "heard";
- Active Listening (using techniques such as mirroring, clarifying, and summarizing to ensure the message is fully understood, while demonstrating genuine presence and interest);
- Intergenerational Connection: Breaking down age-related stereotypes to find common ground. The goal is to create a reciprocal bond where both parties feel a sense of belonging and mutual respect.
Students will be involved in the design and implementation of age-appropriate intercultural activities, such as games and workshops, tailored for diverse age groups, ranging from early childhood (ages 3–6) to seniors.
Through the application of non-formal education methodologies, students will be able to create engaging and interactive learning experiences for the participants.
This learning objective reflects the competence to act successfully in global and diverse environments. Effective collaboration is broken down into three fundamental pillars:
• Cultural Intelligence and Flexibility: The ability to adjust communication and work styles to respect different perspectives, bridging cultural and linguistic barriers.
• Shared Responsibility: Each member's commitment to collective success, where the focus shifts from the individual task to the group's impact on the final objective.
• Agility in Problem Solving: Demonstrating an adaptable attitude towards unforeseen events, using the team's diverse thinking to find more innovative and inclusive solutions.
This learning outcome focuses on the ability to balance structured planning with the unpredictable nature of real-world interaction. It emphasizes three core professional strengths: responsive time management, adaptive problem-solving, and beneficiary-centric execution.
Selection criteria
The main selection criteria will be the motivation for the volunteering experience. Preference shall be given to applicants that have participated in the SAP "Empowering Communities through Volunteering".
Important note: Since the LEXS includes the work with children, selected participants will be asked to send a copy of a valid criminal record before arrival. This document is mandatory to participate in the SLO.
Involved organisations and persons
Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave
Lead Organisation- Ana Dias (Lead Instructor)
- Pedro Melo (Instructor)
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Barcelos
Partner Organisation- Carla Alexandra da Silva (Regional Stakeholder)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Grant Agreement Number: 101124674