IAPCO Edge 2025: When events have an impact on the community

# tags: IAPCO , Porto , Associations

The Porto and North Convention and Visitors Bureau challenged Cais to a social responsibility action during IAPCO Edge 2025.

During the IAPCO Edge 2025 seminar, which took place in Porto from January 28 to 30, there was a social responsibility session which was very well received by the more than 70 participants at the event.

Conceived by the Porto and North Convention and Visitors Bureau, the action shows how it is possible to take a more integrated approach to the role of the events industry. It's important to bring social and academic institutions into the events community, said Mariana Sousa Pavão, International Promotion Coordinator at the Porto and North Convention and Visitors Bureau. And that's exactly what the Convention Bureau did, bringing Cais to the conversation.

The aim of Cais is to help improve the lives of socially and economically vulnerable people, namely the homeless. Alexandre Teixeira, coordinator of the Cais Porto Center, explained to Event Point that they work “in a logic of articulation with civil society”, since “we believe that it is not possible to eradicate the problem of homelessness with the third sector alone”.

At IAPCO they have replicated what they do at the Cais Recicla workshop, which is to create recycled products from end-of-life products, promoting the circular economy and environmental sustainability. And they do this with the support of the homeless population, equipping them with some important skills for the job market. “What we're trying to do with these kinds of events is to bring people into our fight who would otherwise be overlooked because they wouldn't know about it,” explains Alexandre Teixeira.

At the Edge seminar, the dynamic, devised in conjunction with the Convention Bureau, was as follows: the participants split into groups to create and personalize puffs, reusing advertising tarpaulins and disposable hotel slippers, which are often used only once. Once the puffs had been created, they would be donated to the Acreditar Association, which supports children and young people with cancer, as well as their families. The aim was to try to convey to the participants “in a hands-on, practical way, without a lot of theory, that both in terms of social responsibility and environmental sustainability, circular economy products are viable, easy to make, and that the change we also want to see in our communities is within anyone's reach,” said the Cais manager.

During the session, the participants explored creativity, group work and organization and worked hard to create the puffs. These have already been delivered to the Acreditar Association and will bring comfort to the rooms and common areas of the Casa de Acolhimento do Porto, which has the capacity to receive up to 16 families during the treatment periods of children and young people.

Cais is prepared to take part in other events or congresses, customizing these workshops and adapting them to the objectives of the organizations. It also provides gifts for a wide variety of events, including tote bags, pencils and pads, among others.