Barcarena, Portugal – UPF-Portugal arranged for a group of visiting students from Asia to meet with the president of the Barcarena Parish Council, Dr. Bárbara Silva, on July 24, 2024, to discuss volunteer projects they could undertake to serve the local community. Proposed projects included collecting and distributing food to the most disadvantaged families in the parish and school supplies to needy students, as well as fundraising for the local dog shelter.
The students were from the Universal Peace Academy in South Korea, a graduate school affiliated with UPF. Their course of peace studies includes intercultural exchanges and service projects. As part of a European tour, they were tasked with finding and executing activities to benefit the communities they visited.
Dr. Silva, a long-time friend of UPF, was happy to meet young people from across the world with a sincere desire to benefit anyone in need. She suggested that the group work with the Youth Division and the Sports Division of Oeiras Municipality to integrate their efforts with current programs. Also, considering the students were from Japan and Korea, Dr. Silva suggested partnering with a lecturer from Atlântica University to arrange a cultural or educational program with an Oriental theme, to interact with Portuguese students and foster a deeper understanding of Asian cultures.
The meeting gave the students a broader perspective on how to make their service projects effective and appreciated, by collaborating with local authorities and experts.