Jorge Miranda, professor at the Faculty of Law - Lisbon School, was awarded the degree of Grand Cross of the Camões Order by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

The Award Ceremony took place in Belem Palace on 25 July 2022.

The Order of Camões is intended to distinguish the relevant work done to safeguard and project the Portuguese language, as a symbol of union between the communities that speak Portuguese around the world.

"I can't remain indifferent to what is not so good," shares Carolina Tomásio, a law student at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa. For the 19-year-old future jurist, doing volunteering is "giving our contribution" and "really taking an active attitude."

"I've always been very empathetic," says the student at the Lisbon School - Law Faculty, adding that she sought, from an early age, to get involved in volunteering actions. But, "no opportunity had yet arisen" to do so on a regular basis and the Católica VIDA Project was the "perfect" occasion.

Now, the Católica student dedicates part of her free time to accompanying children and young people from the Bairro Fonsecas e Calçada, at the Santa Teresa Association, through the "És Capaz" Project. UCP's Service-Learning initiative aims to mentor young people with the potential to attend university but who, under normal conditions, would not be able to make that choice.

"The idea is that we help them with their schoolwork, but we go a bit further also if the children let us and open up to us," explains Carolina. The purpose of this project is to empower young people and "explore their personal interests, which unfortunately, many times, they don't have a family background, or economic conditions that allow it."

An experience she describes as "very gratifying, because the children are already motivated to work just because we are there with them. I think they even give me more than I give them at the end of the day. It's really good", confesses the volunteer.

So good that " I have already recommended" Projeto Vida. "I think it's super organised," she says. The student also highlights the concern of the organization, ensured by the Office of Social Responsibility, at the headquarters of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in "building a bridge" between volunteers and the association.

Today, Carolina sees voluntary work as "an experience of personal growth and discovery" that she recommends to everyone. For the young student, the most important thing is the willingness, because "if we want it, it has everything to go well."

They chose Law at Católica and believe it is a winning bet. The new students of the Faculty of Law Lisbon School of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) enthusiastically received the shirts they promise to wear with pride. The international prestige of the University and the Law Faculty was decisive when it came to choosing the degree course. Once the decision has been made and entry has been secured, the time has come to get to know the new "home" and the colleagues who will share the path.

Constança Veríssimo is 18 years old, but she has already well defined the path she wants to follow in the coming years. This student of excellence is determined to succeed and although the undergraduate degree is only at the beginning, she already has plans for a Master's in Management. "I want to specialise in renewable energies, but everything will depend on how the law degree course turns my ideas around", says the student.

"My only application was to  Católica because I identified with the degree curriculum and because I thought the prestige of the University would open important doors for me", adds the student.

In the same group of young people is Francisca Luís, also 18 years old. The Open Day opened the doors of the university to her, which she chose without hesitation. "It was my only application. I knew I had the average to get in and so I didn't apply for anything else," confesses the student proudly.

"I love the atmosphere at Católica because it's similar to the school I went to. It makes me feel at home", adds the future lawyer. Another decisive factor, was the "quality and prestige of the teachers", which lead her to believe that she will have "here a teaching that lives up to expectations."

Studying at Católica was always what Bernardo Catarino wanted. The degree, however, "was a more difficult and time-consuming decision". The student refers that "I was undecided between Law and Political Science and International Relations, but Law ended up winning, because it is a more broad course", he concluded.

Alongside Bernardo is Sebastião Henriques, the student who has always liked "the world of rules and laws." The 18-year-old student says he applied to Católica and to a public university, but what he really wants "is to stay at Católica." After all, adds the student, "this University has a great prestige and this is from the outset a great advantage for students." In addition, he guarantees that "the foundations built here are so robust that they allow a safer entry into professional life."