Prioritising the places and people that need it the most
Just a Change
Just a Change | Rrenovating homes, Rebuilding lives
Just a Change transforms lives by rebuilding homes for those living in housing poverty in Portugal. Since 2010, we’ve renovated over 500 houses and 200 institutions, impacting 14,000+ lives. By mobilizing volunteers and local stakeholders, we create safer, healthier spaces while fostering energy efficiency and social inclusion. Every renovation goes beyond bricks and mortar – it's a step toward dignity, hope, and stronger communities. Just a Change: Renovating Homes, Rebuilding Lives!
Portugal
National
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Yes
2024-12-31
Yes
Horizon2020 / ERASMUS / ESF
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
As a representative of an organisation
CAMP IN is the flagship intervention program of Just a Change, designed to decentralize impact and tackle housing poverty across Portugal. With more than 650,000 people currently living in inadequate housing conditions, this social challenge requires urgent and collective action. By mobilizing volunteers, local authorities, and communities, CAMP IN restores dignity and hope to individuals affected by housing poverty.
As a 15-day intensive volunteering camp, CAMP IN empowers youngsters to work alongside professionals, municipalities, and local stakeholders to renovate homes for those in need. This hands-on approach not only improves housing conditions but also fosters social cohesion, promotes intergenerational solidarity, and enhances civic engagement.
The program focuses on improving housing conditions for vulnerable populations, including elderly individuals, low-income families, and people at risk of social exclusion. It fosters youth engagement by involving students in social action, encouraging responsibility and leadership. At the same time, it strengthens local communities by mobilizing municipalities, parish councils, engineers, architects, and businesses to work collaboratively. Sustainability is also a core value, as renovation practices enhance energy efficiency and prolong the life of existing housing.
During the summer of 2024, CAMP IN operated in 23 municipalities, reaching urban, rural, and deindustrialized areas. Through 22 CAMP IN projects , we renovated 85 homes, restoring dignity and safety to 119 residents. This work directly impacted on beneficiaries’ lives, improving their well-being and quality of life. This transformation is only the start of a longer path. We view the home as the starting point of a more systematic transformation, caring deeply about the long-term impact on our beneficiaries. Together with volunteers and local networks, we aim to develop sustained support, ensuring that our beneficiaries continue to thrive.
As a 15-day intensive volunteering camp, CAMP IN empowers youngsters to work alongside professionals, municipalities, and local stakeholders to renovate homes for those in need. This hands-on approach not only improves housing conditions but also fosters social cohesion, promotes intergenerational solidarity, and enhances civic engagement.
The program focuses on improving housing conditions for vulnerable populations, including elderly individuals, low-income families, and people at risk of social exclusion. It fosters youth engagement by involving students in social action, encouraging responsibility and leadership. At the same time, it strengthens local communities by mobilizing municipalities, parish councils, engineers, architects, and businesses to work collaboratively. Sustainability is also a core value, as renovation practices enhance energy efficiency and prolong the life of existing housing.
During the summer of 2024, CAMP IN operated in 23 municipalities, reaching urban, rural, and deindustrialized areas. Through 22 CAMP IN projects , we renovated 85 homes, restoring dignity and safety to 119 residents. This work directly impacted on beneficiaries’ lives, improving their well-being and quality of life. This transformation is only the start of a longer path. We view the home as the starting point of a more systematic transformation, caring deeply about the long-term impact on our beneficiaries. Together with volunteers and local networks, we aim to develop sustained support, ensuring that our beneficiaries continue to thrive.
Housing Poverty
Social Inclusion
Community Transformation
Fuel Poverty Reduction
Dignified Living
The CAMP IN program addresses housing poverty by transforming unsafe, unhealthy, and structurally compromised homes into dignified living spaces. Many of the homes we intervene, suffer from severe structural issues, lack of insulation, poor sanitation, and inadequate infrastructure, making it impossible for beneficiaries to live safely. Most residents cannot afford renovations, leading to energy poverty, social exclusion, and serious health risks. Our goal is to provide them with a safe, comfortable home where they can regain dignity and stability, empowering them to tackle other life challenges.
Environmental sustainability is addressed by improving the energy efficiency of homes, which is crucial in fighting energy poverty—a common consequence for families living in poorly insulated, outdated housing. By improving insulation, ventilation, and thermal comfort, we reduce energy waste, lower heating costs, and help fight energy poverty. These renovations create warmer homes in winter and cooler homes in summer, reducing dependence on excessive energy consumption and improving overall living conditions.
Beyond physical transformation, the project fosters social sustainability by strengthening community ties. Through collaboration with municipalities, local businesses, and volunteers, we create a support network for beneficiaries that extends beyond the renovation itself. This ensures long-term follow-up , preventing further deterioration of homes and helping families integrate into their communities.
Lastly, the program enhances health sustainability by tackling poor hygiene conditions, mold, and ventilation problems, significantly reducing respiratory diseases and improving the well-being of residents.
By addressing housing, energy, social, and health sustainability, CAMP IN stands as an exemplary model of holistic intervention, proving that decent housing is the foundation for a dignified life.
Environmental sustainability is addressed by improving the energy efficiency of homes, which is crucial in fighting energy poverty—a common consequence for families living in poorly insulated, outdated housing. By improving insulation, ventilation, and thermal comfort, we reduce energy waste, lower heating costs, and help fight energy poverty. These renovations create warmer homes in winter and cooler homes in summer, reducing dependence on excessive energy consumption and improving overall living conditions.
Beyond physical transformation, the project fosters social sustainability by strengthening community ties. Through collaboration with municipalities, local businesses, and volunteers, we create a support network for beneficiaries that extends beyond the renovation itself. This ensures long-term follow-up , preventing further deterioration of homes and helping families integrate into their communities.
Lastly, the program enhances health sustainability by tackling poor hygiene conditions, mold, and ventilation problems, significantly reducing respiratory diseases and improving the well-being of residents.
By addressing housing, energy, social, and health sustainability, CAMP IN stands as an exemplary model of holistic intervention, proving that decent housing is the foundation for a dignified life.
The CAMP IN program transforms homes while respecting their cultural identity and ensuring a high-quality living experience for beneficiaries. Our approach to renovation is rooted in simplicity, functionality, and tradition, prioritizing comfort, dignity, and a sense of belonging. We work primarily in rural and historic areas, where we preserve the original character of homes, ensuring they remain in harmony with local architecture and cultural heritage.
Rather than imposing changes, we restore and enhance existing structures, intervening in the layout only when necessary for safety and livability. We maintain the aesthetic identity of traditional Portuguese rural houses, respecting their materials, colors, and historical significance. Moreover, with experience of working in different regions, CAMP IN respects regional architectural idiosyncrasies (e.g. specific stones in the North or white external paintings in the South). This ensures that families continue to recognize their homes as part of their personal and cultural history.
Beyond aesthetics, quality of experience is at the heart of our design philosophy. Our goal is not just to renovate buildings but to create spaces that feel like home—places where beneficiaries feel safe, comfortable, and empowered. This is why we actively involve them in the renovation process, listening to their needs and incorporating their preferences. By participating, beneficiaries develop a sense of ownership and emotional connection to their homes, making the transformation more meaningful.
The impact extends beyond individual homes. Restoring housing also contributes to the revitalization of rural and underprivileged areas, preventing architectural degradation and strengthening local identity. By ensuring that our renovations remain simple, functional, and respectful of cultural heritage, CAMP IN offers a model of how design can enhance both aesthetics and quality of life while preserving identity and dignity.
Rather than imposing changes, we restore and enhance existing structures, intervening in the layout only when necessary for safety and livability. We maintain the aesthetic identity of traditional Portuguese rural houses, respecting their materials, colors, and historical significance. Moreover, with experience of working in different regions, CAMP IN respects regional architectural idiosyncrasies (e.g. specific stones in the North or white external paintings in the South). This ensures that families continue to recognize their homes as part of their personal and cultural history.
Beyond aesthetics, quality of experience is at the heart of our design philosophy. Our goal is not just to renovate buildings but to create spaces that feel like home—places where beneficiaries feel safe, comfortable, and empowered. This is why we actively involve them in the renovation process, listening to their needs and incorporating their preferences. By participating, beneficiaries develop a sense of ownership and emotional connection to their homes, making the transformation more meaningful.
The impact extends beyond individual homes. Restoring housing also contributes to the revitalization of rural and underprivileged areas, preventing architectural degradation and strengthening local identity. By ensuring that our renovations remain simple, functional, and respectful of cultural heritage, CAMP IN offers a model of how design can enhance both aesthetics and quality of life while preserving identity and dignity.
The CAMP IN program is built on the principle that everyone deserves a dignified home, regardless of their economic, social, or physical circumstances. Housing poverty is a major driver of social exclusion, and our mission is to reverse this by providing safe, comfortable, and accessible homes to those who need them most.
Affordability and accessibility are at the core of our approach. We intervene in homes of low-income individuals, many of whom face multiple vulnerabilities such as old age, disability, chronic illness, or social isolation. Because these beneficiaries cannot afford renovations, CAMP IN ensures that all interventions are completely free of charge, removing financial barriers to dignified housing.
Moreover, we prioritize accessibility improvements whenever necessary, such as widening doorways, replacing bathtubs with showers, and ensuring mobility-friendly layouts.
Beyond physical accessibility, CAMP IN promotes inclusive governance and community engagement. Each renovation is a collaborative effort between volunteers, municipalities, local businesses, and community members. By involving beneficiaries in the renovation process, we foster a sense of ownership and empowerment, reinforcing their place in the community rather than treating them as passive recipients of aid. This participatory model strengthens social ties and solidarity, breaking cycles of exclusion and marginalization.
Finally, the CAMP IN project helps address challenges in private property by developing solutions for owners who lack access to other public programs. It also enables municipalities to tackle issues that would otherwise go unaddressed, providing opportunities to support social cases and foster local development. The initiative is intended to complement and enhance existing solutions, extending support to more beneficiaries and addressing a significant social challenge.
Affordability and accessibility are at the core of our approach. We intervene in homes of low-income individuals, many of whom face multiple vulnerabilities such as old age, disability, chronic illness, or social isolation. Because these beneficiaries cannot afford renovations, CAMP IN ensures that all interventions are completely free of charge, removing financial barriers to dignified housing.
Moreover, we prioritize accessibility improvements whenever necessary, such as widening doorways, replacing bathtubs with showers, and ensuring mobility-friendly layouts.
Beyond physical accessibility, CAMP IN promotes inclusive governance and community engagement. Each renovation is a collaborative effort between volunteers, municipalities, local businesses, and community members. By involving beneficiaries in the renovation process, we foster a sense of ownership and empowerment, reinforcing their place in the community rather than treating them as passive recipients of aid. This participatory model strengthens social ties and solidarity, breaking cycles of exclusion and marginalization.
Finally, the CAMP IN project helps address challenges in private property by developing solutions for owners who lack access to other public programs. It also enables municipalities to tackle issues that would otherwise go unaddressed, providing opportunities to support social cases and foster local development. The initiative is intended to complement and enhance existing solutions, extending support to more beneficiaries and addressing a significant social challenge.
The CAMP IN program is built on collaboration and active citizen participation, ensuring that beneficiaries, volunteers, municipalities, and civil society organizations play a direct role in the process. This inclusive approach strengthens community ties, fosters mutual learning, and ensures lasting social impact.
Rather than simply receiving aid, beneficiaries actively participate in their home renovations, reinforcing their sense of ownership, dignity, and empowerment. From the outset, we work closely with them to understand their specific needs and daily challenges. This co-creation process ensures that renovations are not only safer and more comfortable but also functional and aligned with their way of life. Whenever possible, beneficiaries contribute through painting, small repairs, or assisting volunteers, strengthening their connection to the transformation.
Civil society involvement is central to CAMP IN. The program thrives on collaboration between volunteers, municipalities, local businesses, and community members. This exchange fosters empathy and solidarity, breaking social barriers and reducing stigma toward vulnerable populations. Volunteers bring diverse skills and perspectives, enriching the process and creating strong community engagement.
Municipalities identify households in need, streamline renovation logistics, and ensure alignment with local policies. Local suppliers develop localized support networks and provide materials, strengthening the economy and fostering sustainability. Contractors—often small, locally based businesses—boost the local economy while offering vital technical expertise in the planning and execution phases.
By integrating these stakeholders, CAMP IN creates sustainable solutions that extend beyond home renovations. This multi-stakeholder approach strengthens local networks, promotes long-term support for beneficiaries, and ensures that the program remains a catalyst for inclusive community development.
Rather than simply receiving aid, beneficiaries actively participate in their home renovations, reinforcing their sense of ownership, dignity, and empowerment. From the outset, we work closely with them to understand their specific needs and daily challenges. This co-creation process ensures that renovations are not only safer and more comfortable but also functional and aligned with their way of life. Whenever possible, beneficiaries contribute through painting, small repairs, or assisting volunteers, strengthening their connection to the transformation.
Civil society involvement is central to CAMP IN. The program thrives on collaboration between volunteers, municipalities, local businesses, and community members. This exchange fosters empathy and solidarity, breaking social barriers and reducing stigma toward vulnerable populations. Volunteers bring diverse skills and perspectives, enriching the process and creating strong community engagement.
Municipalities identify households in need, streamline renovation logistics, and ensure alignment with local policies. Local suppliers develop localized support networks and provide materials, strengthening the economy and fostering sustainability. Contractors—often small, locally based businesses—boost the local economy while offering vital technical expertise in the planning and execution phases.
By integrating these stakeholders, CAMP IN creates sustainable solutions that extend beyond home renovations. This multi-stakeholder approach strengthens local networks, promotes long-term support for beneficiaries, and ensures that the program remains a catalyst for inclusive community development.
The CAMP IN project thrives on multi-level collaboration, engaging stakeholders at local, regional, national, and European levels to maximize impact and ensure sustainability. Each stakeholder brings essential resources, expertise, and support, making CAMP IN a collective effort in addressing housing poverty.
In 2024, we collaborated with 23 municipalities, intervening in 85 homes. We worked closely with parish councils, local NGOs, and social services to identify 119 beneficiaries, secure permissions, and mobilize community support.
Locally, municipalities are key stakeholders, actively involved from the identification of social cases to post-renovation support. They assisted in designing the project by identifying cases, providing contacts for local suppliers and technicians, and ensuring logistics and volunteer support during implementation. They also helped engaging beneficiaries and ensure continued support after renovations.
Local suppliers and contractors, often from the areas where the CAMP IN projects are implemented, provided materials and labor, boosting the local economy and ensuring that renovations are rooted in the community.
At the national level, foundations and companies provided financial and material support, covering construction costs, logistics, and volunteer coordination. This ensures that all CAMP IN projects are free for beneficiaries, making the fight against housing poverty more sustainable.
This approach allowed the CAMP IN program to grow from 8 territories in 2021 to 23 in 2024. Looking ahead, we aim to further expand cross-sectoral collaboration, create a sustainable support network for beneficiaries, and explore ways to provide more opportunities for volunteers to take on greater responsibilities. On a European level, we are aligned with the Renovation Wave and Green New Deal, where building renovation is key to tackling climate change.
In 2024, we collaborated with 23 municipalities, intervening in 85 homes. We worked closely with parish councils, local NGOs, and social services to identify 119 beneficiaries, secure permissions, and mobilize community support.
Locally, municipalities are key stakeholders, actively involved from the identification of social cases to post-renovation support. They assisted in designing the project by identifying cases, providing contacts for local suppliers and technicians, and ensuring logistics and volunteer support during implementation. They also helped engaging beneficiaries and ensure continued support after renovations.
Local suppliers and contractors, often from the areas where the CAMP IN projects are implemented, provided materials and labor, boosting the local economy and ensuring that renovations are rooted in the community.
At the national level, foundations and companies provided financial and material support, covering construction costs, logistics, and volunteer coordination. This ensures that all CAMP IN projects are free for beneficiaries, making the fight against housing poverty more sustainable.
This approach allowed the CAMP IN program to grow from 8 territories in 2021 to 23 in 2024. Looking ahead, we aim to further expand cross-sectoral collaboration, create a sustainable support network for beneficiaries, and explore ways to provide more opportunities for volunteers to take on greater responsibilities. On a European level, we are aligned with the Renovation Wave and Green New Deal, where building renovation is key to tackling climate change.
The CAMP IN program brings together a multidisciplinary approach, with a primary focus on social work, community engagement, and technical intervention. Each field plays a crucial role in ensuring the program’s success and creating a lasting impact for the families involved.
Social work is at the core of ensuring the well-being of beneficiaries. Social workers from Municipalities are responsible for identifying families in need, supporting them throughout the renovation process, and guaranteeing their support. Their deep knowledge of the local context and the specific challenges beneficiaries face ensures that CAMP IN provides not just housing improvements, but holistic social care. The involvement of local authorities, in particular Municipalities, is equally crucial—they help with the integration of beneficiaries into the community and provide ongoing social services during and after the renovation, ensuring that families continue to thrive well beyond the renovation period.
In terms of community engagement, local Municipalities and parish councils are key players in ensuring that the right families are selected, permissions are secured, and local stakeholders are involved. The community's role is not limited to material or logistical support—local businesses and volunteers are also integral to building a collective spirit and ensuring that CAMP IN is a community-driven initiative.
On the technical intervention side, the program relies on technicians who plan and oversee the renovations. Technicians are responsible for developing the renovation plan, ensuring that structural issues are addressed, and installing energy-efficient solutions. Throughout the 15-day renovation experience, technicians share their knowledge and skills with the volunteers, providing on-the-job training. Each house has its own team, and the project manager ensures the overall coordination, supported by experienced expert volunteers who provide additional guidance and technical
Social work is at the core of ensuring the well-being of beneficiaries. Social workers from Municipalities are responsible for identifying families in need, supporting them throughout the renovation process, and guaranteeing their support. Their deep knowledge of the local context and the specific challenges beneficiaries face ensures that CAMP IN provides not just housing improvements, but holistic social care. The involvement of local authorities, in particular Municipalities, is equally crucial—they help with the integration of beneficiaries into the community and provide ongoing social services during and after the renovation, ensuring that families continue to thrive well beyond the renovation period.
In terms of community engagement, local Municipalities and parish councils are key players in ensuring that the right families are selected, permissions are secured, and local stakeholders are involved. The community's role is not limited to material or logistical support—local businesses and volunteers are also integral to building a collective spirit and ensuring that CAMP IN is a community-driven initiative.
On the technical intervention side, the program relies on technicians who plan and oversee the renovations. Technicians are responsible for developing the renovation plan, ensuring that structural issues are addressed, and installing energy-efficient solutions. Throughout the 15-day renovation experience, technicians share their knowledge and skills with the volunteers, providing on-the-job training. Each house has its own team, and the project manager ensures the overall coordination, supported by experienced expert volunteers who provide additional guidance and technical
The innovation of the CAMP IN program lies in its ability to mobilize human and material resources, creating a direct and lasting impact on socially vulnerable communities. This impact extends beyond the social sphere, influencing economic and environmental factors through a localized and community-based approach.
What sets CAMP IN apart is its systemic approach. Beyond the renovation, we prioritize the well-being of beneficiaries, volunteers, and the local community. By bridging gaps between marginalized individuals and society, we help break cycles of poverty and isolation. Beneficiaries actively participate in the renovation process, ensuring solutions are personalized, empowering, and sustainable.
At the same time, strategic partnerships play a crucial role in our innovative approach. We collaborate with universities, businesses, and social organizations, not only for financial support but also to leverage specialized expertise. Locally, we work with partners who provide resources and workforce, strengthening the social and economic fabric of the regions we serve.
Another key innovation is our network of young volunteers, who bring energy, commitment, and empathy to the program. They approach renovation as a mission. By mobilizing university students, we raise awareness among future leaders. We, also, experiment with new models of volunteering and project management, where volunteers not only contribute their time but also develop skills, take on responsibilities, and become essential stakeholders in the program’s success.
Finally, it integrates a digital platform to map housing poverty in Portugal. Developed by Just a Change, this tool centralizes data, allowing for efficient case identification and response. Many of our social cases originate from this platform, ensuring targeted and strategic intervention. Beyond its immediate use, the platform serves as a long-term resource, offering valuable data to drive systemic change at a national level.
What sets CAMP IN apart is its systemic approach. Beyond the renovation, we prioritize the well-being of beneficiaries, volunteers, and the local community. By bridging gaps between marginalized individuals and society, we help break cycles of poverty and isolation. Beneficiaries actively participate in the renovation process, ensuring solutions are personalized, empowering, and sustainable.
At the same time, strategic partnerships play a crucial role in our innovative approach. We collaborate with universities, businesses, and social organizations, not only for financial support but also to leverage specialized expertise. Locally, we work with partners who provide resources and workforce, strengthening the social and economic fabric of the regions we serve.
Another key innovation is our network of young volunteers, who bring energy, commitment, and empathy to the program. They approach renovation as a mission. By mobilizing university students, we raise awareness among future leaders. We, also, experiment with new models of volunteering and project management, where volunteers not only contribute their time but also develop skills, take on responsibilities, and become essential stakeholders in the program’s success.
Finally, it integrates a digital platform to map housing poverty in Portugal. Developed by Just a Change, this tool centralizes data, allowing for efficient case identification and response. Many of our social cases originate from this platform, ensuring targeted and strategic intervention. Beyond its immediate use, the platform serves as a long-term resource, offering valuable data to drive systemic change at a national level.
The CAMP IN methodology follows four key steps to address housing poverty sustainably and through community-driven efforts.
The first phase is identification and selection, where municipalities and local associations play a crucial role. As experts on the ground, they identify cases for intervention. Our project managers visit homes, engage with beneficiaries, assess their needs, and understand their social challenges. These visits also help in budgeting and formalizing partnerships with municipalities.
Once the cases are selected, we move into the mobilization phase, securing the resources needed for execution. This includes engaging suppliers, organizing logistics, and planning renovation camps. We collaborate with municipalities and long-standing partners to allocate financial and material resources. By leveraging community assets and fostering partnerships with businesses and social organizations, we enhance efficiency while strengthening the local economy and promoting social cohesion.
The third phase is renovation, where we coordinate stakeholders to ensure a smooth renovation process. Volunteers bring energy and raise awareness of housing poverty. A key part of our model is direct resident involvement in the renovation process. Residents actively participate in the work, restoring their self-esteem, fostering a sense of ownership, and supporting their reintegration into the community.
The final phase is monitoring, ensuring long-term impact. Just a Change promotes ongoing engagement by involving local stakeholders in follow-up efforts. Volunteers stay in contact with beneficiaries, while project managers conduct visits to assess progress. Local authorities also play a key role by allocating resources and providing feedback.
Inspired by Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, we collaborate with municipalities, the private sector, and social organizations to maximize impact and ensure long-term sustainability.
The first phase is identification and selection, where municipalities and local associations play a crucial role. As experts on the ground, they identify cases for intervention. Our project managers visit homes, engage with beneficiaries, assess their needs, and understand their social challenges. These visits also help in budgeting and formalizing partnerships with municipalities.
Once the cases are selected, we move into the mobilization phase, securing the resources needed for execution. This includes engaging suppliers, organizing logistics, and planning renovation camps. We collaborate with municipalities and long-standing partners to allocate financial and material resources. By leveraging community assets and fostering partnerships with businesses and social organizations, we enhance efficiency while strengthening the local economy and promoting social cohesion.
The third phase is renovation, where we coordinate stakeholders to ensure a smooth renovation process. Volunteers bring energy and raise awareness of housing poverty. A key part of our model is direct resident involvement in the renovation process. Residents actively participate in the work, restoring their self-esteem, fostering a sense of ownership, and supporting their reintegration into the community.
The final phase is monitoring, ensuring long-term impact. Just a Change promotes ongoing engagement by involving local stakeholders in follow-up efforts. Volunteers stay in contact with beneficiaries, while project managers conduct visits to assess progress. Local authorities also play a key role by allocating resources and providing feedback.
Inspired by Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, we collaborate with municipalities, the private sector, and social organizations to maximize impact and ensure long-term sustainability.
The CAMP IN program offers a replicable model that can be adapted to different contexts, communities, and beneficiaries. Key elements that can be transferred to other places include:
Volunteer Mobilization: Engaging youth, particularly students and corporate volunteers, is an approach that can be scaled and applied globally. The focus on volunteerism as a means to raise awareness and build social responsibility is effective in various cultural and regional contexts.
Community Involvement: The methodology of involving beneficiaries in the renovation process, giving them ownership and responsibility, can be adapted to other areas facing housing poverty. This approach empowers people, restores dignity, and strengthens social ties, ensuring long-term social inclusion.
Cross-sector Collaboration: CAMP IN fosters partnerships with municipalities, businesses, and local organizations. This multi-stakeholder model can be replicated in other regions, creating synergies that bring together resources and expertise from different sectors, making interventions more efficient and sustainable.
Local Resource Utilization: By working with local suppliers and businesses, we not only support the local economy but also ensure that the renovation process is tailored to the specific needs and context of each region. This element can be easily transferred to other communities with similar economic dynamics.
Sustainability Focus: The integration of energy-efficient solutions, such as insulation and thermal upgrades, can be replicated to address energy poverty and reduce environmental impact in other areas facing similar housing conditions. These solutions are adaptable to different climates and housing types.
Training and Knowledge Sharing: The process of training volunteers, local technicians, and beneficiaries can be expanded to other regions, offering an opportunity to transfer knowledge, skills, and best practices to new communities.
Volunteer Mobilization: Engaging youth, particularly students and corporate volunteers, is an approach that can be scaled and applied globally. The focus on volunteerism as a means to raise awareness and build social responsibility is effective in various cultural and regional contexts.
Community Involvement: The methodology of involving beneficiaries in the renovation process, giving them ownership and responsibility, can be adapted to other areas facing housing poverty. This approach empowers people, restores dignity, and strengthens social ties, ensuring long-term social inclusion.
Cross-sector Collaboration: CAMP IN fosters partnerships with municipalities, businesses, and local organizations. This multi-stakeholder model can be replicated in other regions, creating synergies that bring together resources and expertise from different sectors, making interventions more efficient and sustainable.
Local Resource Utilization: By working with local suppliers and businesses, we not only support the local economy but also ensure that the renovation process is tailored to the specific needs and context of each region. This element can be easily transferred to other communities with similar economic dynamics.
Sustainability Focus: The integration of energy-efficient solutions, such as insulation and thermal upgrades, can be replicated to address energy poverty and reduce environmental impact in other areas facing similar housing conditions. These solutions are adaptable to different climates and housing types.
Training and Knowledge Sharing: The process of training volunteers, local technicians, and beneficiaries can be expanded to other regions, offering an opportunity to transfer knowledge, skills, and best practices to new communities.
The CAMP IN program tackles the global crisis of housing poverty, an issue deeply intertwined with social, health, and environmental challenges. By renovating homes for families living in substandard conditions, we contribute to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), addressing interconnected global issues through a holistic approach.
At its core, CAMP IN fights poverty (SDG 1) by improving housing conditions, restoring dignity, and empowering families to break free from cycles of deprivation. Safe housing is also critical to health and well-being (SDG 3)—poor living conditions lead to respiratory diseases, accidents, and mental stress. Our interventions mitigate these risks, fostering safer, healthier environments.
Many homes we renovate lack basic sanitation and clean water access (SDG 6), increasing health vulnerabilities. By upgrading water infrastructure, we enhance hygiene and prevent disease. Additionally, while not all homes receive renewable energy, our efforts to improve thermal efficiency and reduce energy costs (SDG 7) directly combat energy poverty.
CAMP IN also stimulates local economies (SDG 8) by engaging businesses, artisans, and contractors in renovations, generating jobs and strengthening communities. Volunteers—primarily young people—gain valuable skills, fostering their personal and professional growth. By integrating cost-effective, innovative solutions (SDG 9), we create scalable, sustainable housing interventions adaptable to different contexts.
Focusing on marginalized communities (SDG 10), our work actively fights social exclusion, ensuring that vulnerable groups receive the support they need. The program also fosters sustainable cities (SDG 11) by improving neighborhoods and promoting resilience, inclusion, and long-term urban regeneration.
Through CAMP IN, we address housing poverty as a systemic issue, creating lasting change that strengthens communities.
At its core, CAMP IN fights poverty (SDG 1) by improving housing conditions, restoring dignity, and empowering families to break free from cycles of deprivation. Safe housing is also critical to health and well-being (SDG 3)—poor living conditions lead to respiratory diseases, accidents, and mental stress. Our interventions mitigate these risks, fostering safer, healthier environments.
Many homes we renovate lack basic sanitation and clean water access (SDG 6), increasing health vulnerabilities. By upgrading water infrastructure, we enhance hygiene and prevent disease. Additionally, while not all homes receive renewable energy, our efforts to improve thermal efficiency and reduce energy costs (SDG 7) directly combat energy poverty.
CAMP IN also stimulates local economies (SDG 8) by engaging businesses, artisans, and contractors in renovations, generating jobs and strengthening communities. Volunteers—primarily young people—gain valuable skills, fostering their personal and professional growth. By integrating cost-effective, innovative solutions (SDG 9), we create scalable, sustainable housing interventions adaptable to different contexts.
Focusing on marginalized communities (SDG 10), our work actively fights social exclusion, ensuring that vulnerable groups receive the support they need. The program also fosters sustainable cities (SDG 11) by improving neighborhoods and promoting resilience, inclusion, and long-term urban regeneration.
Through CAMP IN, we address housing poverty as a systemic issue, creating lasting change that strengthens communities.
In 2024, the CAMP IN program achieved significant results, positively impacting both direct and indirect beneficiaries. The program focused on renovating homes in unsafe or degrading conditions, empowering beneficiaries and improving their living standards. A total of 85 homes were renovated across 23 territories , benefiting 119 individuals, with the support of 551 volunteers. These renovations addressed issues such as structural problems, lack of sanitation, energy inefficiency, and poor living conditions, significantly improving beneficiaries’ quality of life.
Direct beneficiaries experienced enhanced well-being through safer, more comfortable homes. The renovations improved their access to basic amenities such as clean water, sanitation, and energy-efficient solutions, addressing not only housing poverty but also health risks and energy poverty. By engaging beneficiaries in the renovation process, the program also contributed to restoring their dignity, building self-esteem, and fostering a sense of ownership.
Indirectly, the program benefited local communities and economies. The involvement of local businesses and suppliers in the renovation process injected capital into the local economy, while volunteers from various sectors gained valuable skills and knowledge. The integration of environmental solutions, such as thermal efficiency and renewable energy systems in some homes, helped reduce energy consumption and fostered sustainable living practices.
In addition, the program’s approach of mobilizing volunteers, including college students, created awareness about housing poverty, encouraging a collective sense of social responsibility. The long-term impact of CAMP IN goes beyond physical transformation, as it fosters a model of community collaboration, sustainability, and social inclusion.
Through this intervention, CAMP IN made a lasting impact on beneficiaries' lives, contributing to poverty reduction, improved health abd social integration.
Direct beneficiaries experienced enhanced well-being through safer, more comfortable homes. The renovations improved their access to basic amenities such as clean water, sanitation, and energy-efficient solutions, addressing not only housing poverty but also health risks and energy poverty. By engaging beneficiaries in the renovation process, the program also contributed to restoring their dignity, building self-esteem, and fostering a sense of ownership.
Indirectly, the program benefited local communities and economies. The involvement of local businesses and suppliers in the renovation process injected capital into the local economy, while volunteers from various sectors gained valuable skills and knowledge. The integration of environmental solutions, such as thermal efficiency and renewable energy systems in some homes, helped reduce energy consumption and fostered sustainable living practices.
In addition, the program’s approach of mobilizing volunteers, including college students, created awareness about housing poverty, encouraging a collective sense of social responsibility. The long-term impact of CAMP IN goes beyond physical transformation, as it fosters a model of community collaboration, sustainability, and social inclusion.
Through this intervention, CAMP IN made a lasting impact on beneficiaries' lives, contributing to poverty reduction, improved health abd social integration.
