7,000 students from all over the country have learned how to use and save energy | EDP Portugal

Over 7,000 children aged 4 to 12, from elementary and basic schools across the country, were visited by 150 EDP Group employees, who volunteered to teach them about energy.

Using an Energy Kit specific to each age group, with simple and pedagogical explanations, as well as everyday objects, children from about 300 classes were able to understand the main sources of energy production and how they can use them safely in their everyday lives.

Climate change was also discussed, together with the small changes that children can implement with their families or at school in order to contribute to the planet's sustainability.

The initiative is part of Energy Week, the Group's latest volunteering campaign, created with the purpose of challenging employees to share their skills with local communities.

Also in the context of Energy Week, in partnership with Associação Just a Change, 45 volunteers refurbished a run-down house in Mouraria, Lisbon.

In this case, the house of Dona Amelia - an 84-year-old woman who lives alone in a traditional Lisbon building - was chosen because it was in need of urgent works.

In addition to the refurbishment of the ceilings and walls, EDP activated its Volunteer Electrician Pool for the electrical works the house needed.

The partnership between EDP and Just a Change began in March and this is already the third house they refurbish together.

Included in the 2020 Volunteer Program strategy, these and other initiatives were part of the first edition of Energy Week, which was held from May 22 to 29 (National Energy Day).

This Week's goal was to engage Group employees in initiatives that impact the community through their skills and business knowledge.

The initiatives spanned the various countries where EDP operates, with other volunteer actions focused on teaching children, young people and local communities about energy-related issues, in particular sustainable resource management.

Overall, 300 Group volunteers have joined the initiative.

EDP Volunteer Program

Since its inception in 2011, the EDP Volunteer Program has had more than 30,000 participants, totalling over 225,000 hours of volunteer work, and has established partnerships with more than 1,800 organizations, impacting the lives of over 1 million people.

In 2017, in addition to 2,294 volunteer employees, 624 retired workers, friends, family and partners have joined the EDP Group Volunteer Program.

Overall, 2,918 volunteers have shared their energy with the communities where the company operates, offering more than 40,000 hours of volunteer work.