Cuddle Me
Cuddle Me is a student-led initiative developed as part of the Events Management programme at the Polytechnic University of Leiria. It responded to the need for increased animal adoption and community support for local shelters. After limited response from the municipal kennel, students partnered with JAVA, an independent animal welfare association, to design and host a volunteer-centred awareness event.
The project encouraged direct interaction with shelter animals, aiming to motivate local citizens to adopt or support animal care through volunteering. Though modest in scope, the event helped foster civic engagement and empathy, particularly among students and community members.
The initiative aligns with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by encouraging active local citizenship, and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through its focus on care and protection of animals at risk of abandonment. It represents a small but meaningful contribution to building more inclusive and compassionate local communities.
Challenge
The project responded to two local challenges: the low adoption rates of abandoned animals in municipal shelters and the limited visibility of volunteering opportunities in animal welfare. Many citizens are unaware of how they can contribute or support local shelters, and the needs of animal welfare associations often go unmet. By creating a small-scale, accessible event, the project aimed to raise awareness about animal adoption and encourage more active civic involvement in the care of abandoned animals.
It links to the goals of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by promoting local engagement and community responsibility, and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through its support of animal protection and wellbeing.
Target Groups:
- Citizens from Peniche and Lourinhã.
- JAVA – Association to protected abandoned dogs
Solution
Event: aims to help an association:
- Good cause
- No costs
- Unique and impactful experience
Innovation
At ESTM – Polytechnic of Leiria there was some projects to collect food to shelters. But, there wasn’t a single event that promote a real experience with the animals.
Impact
Even with a little impact, to have the possibility to change the day of the volunteers of this association, bring us a sense of achievement.
Feasibility and Transferability
The project is feasible – Java association and the students had several meetings in order to improv and implement the idea. The methods used to develop this project can easily be used in other projects in order to change attitudes and habits in a society.
This student project is submitted through:
School of Tourism and Maritime Technology, Polytechnic University of Leiria
It involved 4 students in the Bachelor in Events Management
Project presentation: Download Here