Renovating Homes, Rebuilding Lives.

Just a Change is a non-profit association

that rebuilds homes of people in need in Portugal.

To this day, Just a Change has rebuilt hundreds of houses and institutions, having mobilized thousands of volunteers inside and outside the country.

our

mission

We rehabilitate houses without roofs, windows and doors. Houses where there is no hot water or electricity. We rehabilitate houses where it is cold all the time.

We rehabilitate homes because we believe that living conditions have a direct impact on reducing poverty and crime in the population. We rehabilitate homes because we know that it brings improvements to public health and energy efficiency in our country. We rehabilitate homes because we know that this could be the starting point for a new life. We rehabilitate homes so that everyone has a decent place to live.

We rebuild lives because we bring volunteers full of joy and hope to people's homes. We rebuild lives because we give hope to those who no longer have it, and because we mobilize the community to help and recover their own.

We rebuild lives because home is the most important place in the world and we all deserve to have one.

RENOVATING HOMES, REBUILDING LIVES

our

vision

We look to the future and dream of a world where there is Joy, Hope and Charity

in all homes.

We also look at what we do and what we leave behind. We want you to see us as those who sow Joy, Hope and Charity everywhere we go. We want to take this dream of ours to every home,

every volunteer and every partner ..

This vision is a real goal, for the life of each of the people involved. For if in a house we have left Joy, Hope and Charity forever, the world has already been transformed for the better.

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our pillars

SERVICE

SAFETY

SUSTAINABLE

IMPACT

In everything, putting ourselves at the service of others

In every

rehabilitation and activity

Efficiency, Quality, Social Effectiveness and Financial Sustainability

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Volunteer

Manifesto

1. THE BENEFICIARY

The beneficiary is the reason you’re here. We want to rebuild their life and bring them joy, hope and charity. The construction site is just a means to this end.

You won’t judge them for their home, their actions, words, looks, possessions or cleanliness. You must be patient and thoughtful. You don’t know their story.

If you ever have to choose between the beneficiary and the construction, the right choice would always be the first.

2. The commitment

Committing to Just a Change means remembering that there are people who depend on you: the team, the beneficiary and everyone else involved in the project. . Every hour is essential and everytime you neglect your work, someone else has to do it. The construction gets delayed and most of all, the beneficiary is the one getting harmed

3. the joy

The simplest gesture can change someone's life.

When you come to work happy, you increase the joy of others. You may not be the life of the party, but a "how was your day", or even just a smile can have a big impact on the beneficiary.

Give all your joy and it will come back to you.

At Just a Change, joy is a responsibility.

4. the construction site

Take care of the site. Follow the lead of the people who are there to help you and make sure you keep yourself safe.

5. the t-shirt

Put your shirt on, literally and figuratively and turn small chores into big gestures. Make it a symbol of union and spread this feeling through every home you work in.

6. the service

It’s not always easy but get over yourself. You’re here to serve others and not the other way around.

Do good, in a good mood.

7. the respect

Respect is universal. Is like the floor of a house - it must be solid. It’s one of the foundations of a team. Respect will strengthen the group so that, together, you can build a new ceiling for the beneficiary.

Never forget that, more than hierarchically, respect must be mutual.

We enhance our impact by collaborating with local organizations

We activate the local network of social partners, to map and screen families living in a state of housing poverty. From there and with Just a Change we do a prioritization of houses and families that need Just a Change's Intervention.

Once the interventions are selected, Just a Change is in charge for mobilizing the main resources needed for the project’s implementation.

Throughout the construction Just a Change focuses on creating relationships with its beneficiaries and managing the affairs with the partners to enhance the social impact. During the intervention Just a Change encourages the beneficiaries to take part in the works.

With the network of local partners Just a Change ensures the changes and impact achieved during the rehabilitation works are not lost, by guaranteeing every family is followed and helped in other social issues by social workers.

JUST A CHANGE PROGRAMMES

We have developed various interventions programmes, letting us to intervene in different contexts at the same time. These allow us to raise the social cohesion and impact in the local communities.

TURN UP

In the cities of Lisbon and Porto during the academic semesters, the volunteers work 4 hours every two weeks.

CAMP IN

In the summer, Just a Change camps (7 to 12 days programme), take place in the contryside of Portugal, generating social impact in the local communities.