#ERASMUSADDICTED
ESN (Erasmus Student Network) is a non-profit, apolitical association and is one of the biggest student organisations in Europe. It was during the Erasmus gathering in Ghent 1989 that the need for an organisation that offered support to exchange students while abroad. On the 16th of October 1989, the first local association started. With an even developing and expanding network, we are now present in more than 800 Higher Education Institutions in 40 countries. More than 14000 active volunteers in dedicate their free time all over Europe, often supported by buddies that are linked to an exchange student to offer advice on their host towns. ESN involved thus around 34000 young people and offer services to around 200000 international students every year, on a voluntary basis.
Erasmus Student Network Porto is 1 of the 13 ESN Portugal sections, and it's composed by a team of volunteer students . We are a mix of Portuguese and International students who share an interest in intercultural exchanges, travelling, and showing our city. Our motto is: Students Helping Students , and that?s what we are, students like you.
We organize events of many different types, from Welcome Months to receive new students at their universities, to trips across the country. We study in many universities across the city, so you can easily find us.
PROJECTS AND CAUSES
From organising integrating activities for exchange students to contributing to the increase of employability of local youth, ESNs scope of work is very wide. ESN gathers young people from various cultural and educational backgrounds who contribute to the diversity of the organisation?s work while creating opportunities for personal and professional development of their peers.
The variety of activities can be divided into six causes that ESN members advocate for on all levels of the organisation: Environmental Sustainability, Health and Wellbeing, Social Inclusion, Youth and Education, Skills and Employability and Culture
Culture
Experiencing the way of life in diverse and unknown cultures is a strong motivator for young people to move abroad to participate in mobility programmes. One of ESN's values is unity in diversity, diversity in unity and our members work hard to provide opportunities for cultural understanding to both international and local members of their community, as well as open an intercultural dialogue between them.
Youth and Education
Being the largest student network aimed at higher education exchange student, ESN naturally promotes the benefits of education, especially to young people who may be the movers of tomorrow. This is done through local events or more ambitious cooperation with education related organisms in the welcoming country.
Environmental Sustainability
Being a major challenge of our times, members of ESN want to display their social involvement by showing the environmental mindset of young volunteers. Going on exchange can be the opportunity to tackle environmental issues, be it related to the direct consequences of the exchange or for tackling the effects of climate change at large.
Health and Wellbeing
Allowing for both international students and volunteers of the network to take care of their mental and physical health through activities and wellbeing campaigns. Too often short duration periods, especially in an unfamiliar environment, tend to lead to unhealthy lifestyles for various reasons: ESN wishes to offer alternatives and advice to all concerned in order to prioritise their health above anything else.
Skills and Employability
For students, one of the biggest challenges remaining past university life is the matter of job-seeking and employability, which is the culmination of their efforts as higher education students. ESN wishes to help both exchange students and their volunteers in this endeavour, by cooperating with companies to offer placement opportunities, or by helping their job seeker status through better recognition of their skills and advising on how to promote said skills.
Social Inclusion
As ambassadors of mobility, the members of ESN wish to promote inclusivity on a daily basis, welcoming people to their events regardless of their social background, religion, sexual orientation, gender, skin colour, disabilities and any other factors susceptible to discrimination. Volunteers of ESN aim at making their events open to as many people as possible and try to accommodate the needs of as many people as possible.
We hope that you will have the best experience in Puorto and be sure that we will do everything that we can to make this possible for all.
Your new family, Erasmus Student Network Porto
With the Support of
