The Porta Nova Volunteering Association is a non-profit organisation that develops local and international volunteering projects. It started as an Autonomous Section of the Medical Students Nucleus of the University of Minho (NEMUM). It was officially constituted as an Association on February 26, 2020. Currently, the core team consists of 41 people; 24 volunteers and 17 collaborators.
With the students from the School of Medicine of the University of Minho, the Porta Nova Volunteering Association is running multiple projects in different countries such as Guinea-Bissau, Angola and Mozambique, within the scope of health awareness and education.
International Volunteering Programs
This international association is mainly based at the School of Medicine of the University of Minho. It sensitises the students to the practice of voluntary actions and social solidarity. Moreover, the volunteering association contributes to the medical and humanist education of the students. That is not all! The working body of the association ensures providing associates with the opportunity to carry out local volunteer actions and international projects.
The international projects happen during the summer, July and August, to facilitate the students during school break. The projects in the past took place in Guinea-Bissau, Angola, Mozambique and Sao Tome and Principe.
International Medical Experience
A group of 3-4 volunteers go to countries for 4-5 weeks to do a hospital internship. This is a golden opportunity to learn, develop new clinical competencies and experience a different medical experience context.
The most important part of these international projects is the number of medical supplies the volunteers take to donate to the hospitals where they are most needed. Each group takes about 80 kg of material.
National Project Programs
The Porta Nova Association is not limited to international projects only! It has national projects that are just as important. An annual congress, PN Talks, is going to take place on 12th November 2022.
We also carry out national volunteering, with cardiovascular risk evaluations and activities with institutions. We have fundraising and our own newspaper, PN Reads.
Partners and Sponsors
The Porta Nova Volunteering Association maintains partnerships with the Medical Students Nucleus of the University of Minho (NEMUM) and IPDJ (Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth) and the city council of Braga.
With the regular assistance of some authoritative figures, companies and institutes that help us regularly this association runs every national and international project fluently. The godfather, Gustavo Carona, and godmother, Ana Paula Cruz, contribute a lot to the well-being of our association.
Volunteering Protocol
As per the volunteering protocol of The Porta Nova Volunteering Association, medical students from the School of Medicine of the University of Minho from the third year onwards can volunteer and participate in international projects. Students from the first and second years can also participate as collaborators. Besides the volunteers from school, the platform has associates and companies that help significantly. The associates are part of our General Assemblies, which means they can vote and give their opinion on subjects.
What can you do?
You can help The Porta Nova Volunteering Association by financial donations directly, participating in fundraising activities and giving material that we donate nationally and internationally.