After a storm, the greatest impact is social. MEXE-TE empowers young people to act in the aftermath of the storm, mobilizing them as agents of change to support vulnerable communities and build more humane and resilient responses.
Climate change is intensifying extreme phenomena such as storms and floods, with increasingly visible impacts on communities. However, the true impact does not end when the storm passes. It is in the aftermath of the storm that the greatest vulnerabilities emerge: environmental degradation, loss of essential goods, increased social vulnerability, isolation, and emotional fragility. An environmental catastrophe quickly transforms into a social crisis.
Among those most affected are elderly people in situations of social isolation and economic vulnerability, who face these situations with fewer resources, less information, and less support.
Given this reality, it becomes essential to develop preventive, educational, and community-based responses capable of strengthening the preparedness of populations and social cohesion.
It is in this context that MEXE-TE is mobilized as a response. This Education for Development project empowers young people towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through non-formal education methodologies, peer education, and a cascading model that allows for multiplying the impact of learning.
In this model, higher education students are trained as social facilitators and lead sessions with secondary school students, who then replicate the knowledge in primary education, promoting youth empowerment and the development of solutions.
The intervention will be developed in Leiria, Marinha Grande and Pombal, involving 9 classes (3 per municipality). With an average of 20 to 25 students per class, the project will directly impact approximately 180 to 225 young people.
Three to five sessions will be held per class, with close and progressive monitoring, from understanding the impacts of climate change to developing responses in the post-storm context.
Young people are taking an active role as agents of change, intervening directly in their communities.
This training leads to action: they will develop and deliver emergency kits to the elderly, mobilizing local partners and explaining how to act in risky situations. This intervention promotes preparedness, care, and connection between generations.
The project culminates in an intergenerational bootcamp, where young people deliver the kits, in a moment of sharing, practical training, and strengthening community cohesion.
This project aims to empower young people, support the elderly, and contribute to more resilient communities, in alignment with SDGs 4, 10, 11, and 13.
Because, after the storm, the response must be more human, relatable, and compassionate.
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About the author
Atlas People Like Us is a Non-Governmental Development Organization (NGDO), founded in 2008 and based in Coimbra, whose mission is to promote Integrated and Sustainable Human Development through community intervention, volunteering, and cooperation.
Operating in several municipalities in the Central region, Atlas develops projects in the areas of local development, education for development, and cooperation, mobilizing a wide network of volunteers and institutional partners.
His work in combating loneliness and social isolation among the elderly population stands out, through initiatives such as "Velhos Amigos" (Old Friends), "Radices" (Roots) and "LudicIDADES" (Playfulness), which promote active inclusion, dignified aging and intergenerational connection, with positive impacts on the quality of life of the participants.
In parallel, Atlas promotes Education for Development projects, such as MEXE-TE, which foster global citizenship and the active participation of young people, as well as international cooperation initiatives in contexts of high vulnerability.
Their work is based on a participatory and community-based approach, valuing social innovation, the creation of collaborative networks, and the development of sustainable solutions with a real impact on communities.
Budget and due dates
Project scheduling:
The project will have a total duration of 12 months, beginning with the preparation phase in June 2026 and implementation starting in September 2026, in line with the academic calendar.
Phase 1: Preparation and coordination (June – July 2026)
- Detailed intervention planning
- Meetings with partner schools (Leiria, Marinha Grande and Pombal)
- Coordination with local partners and definition of participating groups.
- Project logistics organization
Phase 2: Capacity building and implementation (September 2026 – May 2027)
- Development of sessions with young people (cascade model)
- Training for students in higher, secondary and basic education.
- Promoting activities in a school setting.
- Identifying needs in communities
- Developing solutions by young people: Creation of emergency kits by young people; Mobilization of local partners to support the kits; Explanatory sessions on the use of the kits for the elderly.
Phase 4: Bootcamp and closure (June – July 2027)
- Conducting an intergenerational bootcamp
- Project evaluation and results collection
- Impact disclosure and closure
Project budget:
The total estimated budget for the implementation of the project is: €24,982
Human Resources
- Part-time specialized technician (12 months: gross salary + benefits), €13,182
The amount is calculated based on a gross salary of €1,350 (full-time), considering part-time work, legal charges, and meal allowance (€6.15/working day).
Emergency kits (for the elderly)
- Production of approximately 100 kits.
- Average unit cost: €40
4000 €
(Young people will also play an active role in mobilizing partners to support the creation of the kits, contributing to the sustainability of the intervention.)
Intergenerational Bootcamp
- Food (250 participants x €20): €5000
Teaching materials
Materials for sessions, dynamics and educational activities: €1,200
Travel
- Team transportation and activity support: €1,000
Management and unforeseen events
- Operational and administrative costs: €600
This budget was defined in such a way as to guarantee an efficient, sustainable intervention with a direct impact, ensuring that the majority of resources are directed towards concrete actions within the community, namely the empowerment of young people and support for vulnerable elderly people.
Budget Summary
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Kits (100 elderly people)
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4,000€
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