GAStagus is a youth non-profit NGO based in the Instituto Superior Tecnico in Taguspark campus (Portugal) that develops projects in education and development cooperation in Africa and Brazil.
GAStagus is a youth non-profit NGO based in the Superior Technical Institute in Taguspark campus(Portugal) that develops projects in the education and development cooperation in Africa and Brazil.
Since it was founded Gastagus has sent 83 teams in volunteer missions to Africa and Brazil. To go on mission volunteers have to pass through a process with several stages that have 3 important aspects:
- Formation
- National Volunteer
- Fundraising
In 2016, Gastagus has about 250 volunteers divided into 5 groups of 50 people who raise funds independently of each other. We are the group based in the ISEG ( Caminhada D).
During 7 months these 50 people divide their time between formations, volunteering in a local institution and fundraising .
In several countries we work in partnership with local institutions and send to every community a team of 5 volunteers during the month of August to help and complement the work already developed by these organizations throughout the year.
We work in the areas of Education, Health and Ludic Pedagogy.
The funds we raise are intended to pay the stay and travel costs of the volunteers. Here we ask for your contribution to get 1 volunteer in mission (1150 euros).
About the author
Gastagus is a social action group based in Taguspark in Oeiras(Portugal). It is a non-profit NGO that develops projects in education and development cooperation, in Portugal, Africa and Brazil.
It was founded in 2008 in partnership with the IST-LAGE2 Taguspark. It started from the initiative of some of the IST students who wanted to create a new concept of volunteering that aims not only to increased social awareness, but also the learning values that are very important for the proper functioning of society.
Today Gastagus is divided into several poles to allows more people to have the opportunity to go through the experience. In 2016 there are 5 groups divided into 5 areas: ISPA (Caminhada A), FPIE (Caminhada B), FCT (Caminhada C), ISEG (Caminhada D) and Taguspark (Caminhada E). Each group raises funds independently of each other. At the beginning each journey starts with 50 members, plus five counselors who provide training and prepare the volunteers for the mission. Throughout the year the number of members in each group can down both due to dropouts or the lack of funds to go on mission.
Values:
- Team and Friendship,
- Renunciation and Simplicity,
- Commitment and Service,
- Continuity and Sustainability.
Vision:
- Alert and encourage youth to the discovery and promotion of human dignity.
Mission:
- Integrate and value the personal, social and cultural diversity of volunteers.
- Enriching cultural and personally the volunteers.
- Allow the volunteer to have an active and conscious participation in the society.
Budget and due dates
At this moment we are about 30 people working intensely on fundraising until July, to go in August on mission. The fundraising is done for the team, not individually.
Costs per volunteer (1150 euros):
+ 800 euros → Plane ride
+ 15 euros → Insurance
+ 150 euros → Expenses associated with the stay, transportation and food
+ 50 euros → Visa
+ 35 euros → Health costs (vaccinations)
+ 100 euros → Infrastructure costs (human resources, etc.)
