The selected entities constitute references in the social panorama, distinguishing themselves for their meritorious work and effective impact on communities.
A Yellow Heart Association is dedicated to providing assistance and companionship to elderly people living in isolation. Through 11 delegations, the association benefits approximately 500 people. According to the organization, Lidl’s contribution will enable “a significant improvement in support for users” and a strengthening of ongoing activities and future projects.
For its part, the Portuguese Red Cross emphasizes that its autonomy and active aging programs “are distinguished by the proximity and personalization of support”, intervening in communities through their territorial structures. “The partnership with Lidl will allow us to reinforce resources, expand responses and create new community initiatives, valuing the autonomy and active participation of seniors in their environment.” The institution highlights that currently “the senior population is growing and transforming”, presenting “new needs, for which many answers do not yet exist or do not have the necessary dimension”. In addition to the problems that persist, such as “social isolation, low digital literacy, difficulty in accessing healthcare and scarcity of local resources, especially in more remote communities”, the Red Cross identifies “social, political and economic changes that mark our time and that have a direct impact on the lives of those who are aging.” Finally, the institution values ​​partnerships such as the one established with Lidl, as they “allow us to expand the reach” and “mobilize civil society and the private sector for a more coordinated response, ensuring that more elderly people remain active, accompanied and safe”, he concludes. RUTIS also stands out for encouraging continuous training and social involvement. According to the institution, “the most sought after areas are general culture, technologies, arts, sport, languages, health and well-being, travel and also volunteering and civic participation projects”, emphasizing that “Lidl’s support will allow us to expand these offers nationally and internationally using digital tools, making them accessible to those who live in rural areas or with reduced mobility, democratizing access to lifelong learning and creating an online community.”
At the same time, the ROUTINES states that “the impact of continuous learning is measured through well-being questionnaires, participation indicators, levels of satisfaction and involvement in community activities. The results show significant improvements in mood, self-esteem, social relationships and the perception of social usefulness, confirming that learning and living together are the most effective ways of aging with health and meaning in life.” According to information from RUTIS, “senior students are happier, consume 20% less medication, are 7 times less depressed than other seniors and have 5 times more social contacts”. The institution concludes by stating that “there are more than 80 master’s and doctoral theses in Portugal confirming these data.