Spending these three weeks interning with the Vasco Vieira de Almeida Foundation team has been such a wonderful and enriching experience for me, both personally and professionally. I feel incredibly grateful to be part of a team that is truly dedicated to making a positive social impact, especially in education. During this time, I’ve expanded my understanding of how Corporate Social Responsibility functions and how it interacts with various areas to create a strategic vision for social impact within a company. Participating in meetings—whether internal or external—monitoring field projects and engaging actively in team activities have all been incredibly valuable moments that helped me learn and grow more confident in my abilities. I leave this internship with a full heart, a clearer sense of the direction I want to pursue, and a renewed passion to contribute to projects that foster social justice, equity, and a more humane and responsible future.

The Vasco Vieira de Almeida Foundation gave me the opportunity to have a different experience to my own and to grow and learn more about social responsibility in the corporate world. Participating in meetings and decision-making processes was extremely important to me, as was the role that the Foundation plays in promoting active citizenship within the Firm, especially through corporate volunteering. I realized that the mission of fighting inequalities through education and culture was aligned with that of Teach For Portugal, and it was then that I had my greatest learning moment: the importance of alignment between partner entities.  I learned that it is essential to have a network of deeply involved people who feel part, who want to be part of it, but most importantly, who make it happen because they genuinely  believe in what they are supporting. Thank you for letting me grow with you and for believing in my full potential.

This internship experience was really important to me, both at a professional and personal development level. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, developed my adaptability to new scenarios, and allowed me to tailor my communication to different audiences. I realised how truly important it is to network and develop synergies for a common purpose. In addition to funding different projects, I found it very interesting to realise that the Foundation also adds value to them by engaging all VdA employees, therefore bridging the gap between people and realities that are often so distant. Overall, this experience has given me the chance to explore some very interesting projects, which in turn has inspired me and prompted me to go back to school full of ideas – and with plenty of new opportunities for my students.