Grupo 1: Patricija Rugaja, Stamatis Litsos, Emilija Rojnik, Arthur Oliveira, Eduarda Alves

Stamatis Litsos

For me, the mission was a unique and innovative experience, as I learned about the environment not only in a theoretical way but also in a practical and enjoyable way. I also had the opportunity to meet professionals and people who share the same interests and concerns as I do. I hope to participate in another similar mission in the future.

Emilija Rojnik

Taking part in the YRE mission in Oeiras was a truly one-of-a-kind experience, and I will cherish the memories and experiences gained along the way. My favourite part of the mission was the field reporting, where I learned how to conduct interviews and think critically about the information I gathered. I also enjoyed working in groups, as it gave me the opportunity to contribute to a larger final product that we could all be proud of. I am grateful for this experience and excited about what YRE has in store next.

Eduarda Alves

Taking part in the YRE mission in Oeiras was an incredibly enriching experience that allowed me to explore environmental issues in a dynamic and hands-on way. Throughout the mission, I had the opportunity to develop new skills, especially in communication and teamwork, while engaging with inspiring people who share similar concerns about the future of our planet. One of the highlights for me was collaborating with others to create something meaningful, showing the power of collective effort. I am truly grateful for this experience and hope to be part of similar initiatives in the future.

Patricija Rugaja

I had a wonderful experience throughout the entire week, exploring wildlife, natural meadows, biodiversity, marine life, and cultural sites. Not only did I deepen my knowledge, but I also learned much more about the various topics we discussed. Interviewing experts in the field of biology helped make the articles more engaging and easier to read.

Arthur Oliveira

Joining the YRE mission in Oeiras was a very rewarding experience that helped me understand environmental topics through hands-on and interactive activities. Along the way, I developed skills such as teamwork, communication, and critical thinking, especially during tasks like conducting interviews. I also valued connecting with people who share similar interests and working together on projects with real purpose, making the experience both meaningful and motivating.

Grupo 2: Estere Felicita Žukovska, Alkmini Kikidi, Primož Dornik, Lukas Vyhnalik e Mariana Martin

We started the day with a visit to the urban gardens Moinho das Antas e Hortas da Pedreira italiana em Caxias, where we met with Paula Alberto, a biologist who has worked on the project since 2017. It was interesting to learn about this innovative way of solving more problems at the same time. We could see how important it is for the elderly, to feel like a part of a community and how important it is for families who live in urban areas to have an opportunity to have a garden and teach their children about growing edible greenery. We also met some very kind old urban farmers, who were very interesting to listen to. This experience taught us about the importance of community building actions.

Our day was continued with visiting Nirvana studios, where we were shown and taught about their community and why it matters to them. The most important lesson we learned is that sometimes a small group of devoted people could create a project of such size which would become bigger than themselves and that when this happens there are many people who are ready to help, you just need to ask them.

This day with YRE was very educational and we learned a lot about the social part of our lives. We enjoyed both – listening to the older experienced urban farmers as well as professional musicians. Hopefully the next few days will be as fun as this one too.

We started the day with a visit to the urban gardens Moinho das Antas e Hortas da Pedreira italiana em Caxias, where we met with Paula Alberto, a biologist who has worked on the project since 2017. It was interesting to learn about this innovative way of solving more problems at the same time. We could see how important it is for the elderly, to feel like a part of a community and how important it is for families who live in urban areas to have an opportunity to have a garden and teach their children about growing edible greenery. We also met some very kind old urban farmers, who were very interesting to listen to. This experience taught us about the importance of community building actions.

Our day was continued with visiting Nirvana studios, where we were shown and taught about their community and why it matters to them. The most important lesson we learned is that sometimes a small group of devoted people could create a project of such size which would become bigger than themselves and that when this happens there are many people who are ready to help, you just need to ask them.

This day with YRE was very educational and we learned a lot about the social part of our lives. We enjoyed both – listening to the older experienced urban farmers as well as professional musicians. Hopefully the next few days will be as fun as this one too.

Grupo 3: Eva Oliveira, Lara Ribeiro, Leonardo Sales, Pedro Gomes e Salomé Patinõ

Hoje passámos o dia na Serra de Carnaxide. Na primeira parte do dia, estivemos a coletar uma planta invasora chamada “Algodoeiro”, que não é nativa, e que representa um perigo serio para a biodiversidade da Serra, porque necessita de muita agua, alem de conflituar com plantas nativas por espaço e nutrientes. Na segunda parte do dia, estivemos a visualizar e a tentar capturar alguns insetos voadores que habitam naquela região, mas tivemos alguma dificuldade em apanhar borboletas, apesar de estar um bom clima para o fazer. Além disso, também estivemos a entrevistar e a ouvir o biólogo especializado em gestão ambiental Fernando Esteves.

Este biólogo indicou-nos algumas das espécies mais comuns de borboletas encontradas naquela região, nomeadamente a Borboleta-pequena-da-couve (Pieris rapae). Em relação às abelhas, também nos explicou que só as fêmeas tinham ferrão, alem de nos ensinar a diferenciar machos e fêmeas. Além disso, fomos informados que estes trabalhadores descobriram uma espécie de sapos que apenas existe em Portugal chamada “Sapinho-das-rugas-verdes”.

Também nos foi explicado que a grande maioria dos voluntários eram jovens que estão a tirar uma licenciatura em Biologia mais especializada no meio ambiente, e que como é um trabalho mais específico, todos os voluntários são remunerados, mas necessitam de passar por uma entrevista.

O nosso grupo gostou mais do facto de podemos andar livremente por aquele espaço, além de podemos observar e fotografar bem de perto alguns insetos que consideramos quase impossível de observar desta forma no nosso dia-a-dia. Também gostámos da disponibilidade do Sr. Fernando para responder às nossas questões.

Não temos nada negativo a destacar, só o sol que nos incomodou um pouco, apesar de isso ser algo incontrolável.

Grupo 4: Kasper Withrow, Rita Sousa, Isabela Astorga, Pedro Santos e Leonor Lopes

Nós hoje acordamos e fomos tomar o pequeno-almoço como habitual. Antes de entrarmos no autocarro estivemos a tirar uma foto de grupo. Depois partimos até ao Aquário Vasco da Gama onde estivemos aprender um pouco mais sobre animais marinhos. A experiência de ver os animais de perto foi muito interessante pois dava para ver melhor os detalhes e estilos de vida.

Antes de irmos almoçar, alguns foram a uma loja comprar recordações.

Já no Adventure Park estivemos a comer pizza, que era o almoço. Logo a seguir fomos nos equipar para fazer o aborismo. O  foi desafiante e corajoso. A seguir fizemos várias reportagens para a recolha de mais informações. Quando voltamos para o hotel descansamos um pouco e fomos trabalhar.

No fim do dia estivemos a conviver uns com os outros.