The Covid-19 pandemic had a profound social and economic impact on many households. Many college students are all but unable to continue their education. That is where Stand4Good steps in.

The Organization was born of the belief that absolutely everyone has unique potential but needs the proper resources to fulfil it.

In 2020, Stand4Good became a Pro Bono client of our Social Economy practice area and in 2021 it is already among the Social Organizations for Citizenship Education supported by Fundação Vasco Vieira de Almeida.

Stand4Good develops three key programs: Learn4Good, Mentor4Good and Woork4Good.

The Learn4Good program, developed in partnership with the Porto University, helps to support the first 20 students not granted social action scholarships for the 2020/2021 school year, who meet the eligibility criteria. The Mentor4Good Mentoring Program, developed in partnership with Argo Partners, helps students develop and maximize skills in high demand in the labor market and increase their self-awareness. The Work4Good program is a professional integration program that helps bring students and businesses closer together by placing scholarship students in partner companies during school breaks and promoting internships in line with the students’ interests.

Inês Sotto Mayor, Senior Associate at VdA’s Investigations & White-Collar Crimes practice area is a mentor in the Mentor4Good program and will be supporting a first-year law student majoring in Criminology at the Porto University Law School.

“The same day I met this criminology student passionate about criminal investigation and with the dream of one day joining the Polícia Judiciária [Portuguese Criminal Investigation Police] as a detective, I got a call from a former intern at our Investigations & White Collar Crimes practice area to tell me that he had succeeded in fulfilling his life-long dream and been admitted to the Polícia Judiciária. Some might call it a coincidence or an omen, I took it as a sign that while I cannot ensure that she will be admitted to the Polícia Judiciária I can certainly help her build the bridge that might help her get there someday or wherever her dreams may lead her. As Mentor, I will help her recognize and develop her skills and use them in a job that fulfils her. I thank the Fundação Vasco Vieira de Almeida to offer me this incredibly fulfilling opportunity. Because we at VdA are so much more than ‘just lawyers’.”

Inês Sotto Mayor

For more information, visit www.stand4good.org