“We can't underestimate the power of small actions.”
At 23, she started an organization that has supported more than 7,000 migrants and refugees, with the support of more than 1,500 volunteers over the years. In this interview, he shares with us his journey, the greatest challenges and the vision of the future for a more inclusive society.
From the Dream in Human Rights to the Birth of the Lisbon Project
1. Can you start by telling us a little about yourself and your journey to reach the Lisbon Project?
Gabriela: I grew up in Portugal, I'm Portuguese, but I was born in South Africa. I studied Politics and International Relations in Scotland, with the ambition to work on human rights, especially in Africa.
But in 2016, when I returned to Portugal to be with my family and started looking to work abroad, I also began to meet migrants and refugees in Lisbon. I made some friends and realized that there was a pattern, that there were enormous barriers and difficulties that they faced, such as: learning the language, finding a job, dealing with bureaucracy and, above all, great social isolation.
2. Is that where the idea for the Lisbon Project came from?
Gabriela: Yes. At the time I realized that, in addition to the government's institutional response, civil society was barely involved, that is, it looked around and saw a response from the Government, through the SEF, from citizen stores and health centers, but when I looked at the community, I didn't really see much action.
So I thought, what if I could mobilize different sectors, such as universities, companies, sports clubs and churches to all collaborate together, to provide a more humane, more effective and faster response? And that's how the Lisbon Project was born.
In the beginning it was just a way to help one person at a time, I didn't have a great vision for 10 years, I wasn't an entrepreneur with a strategy for the coming years, my idea was simply one step, one life at a time.
And it started with a family from Iraq that couldn't enroll their children in school, I went with them to the group and just by speaking Portuguese, we were able to solve everything in half an hour.
I realized that simply serving one person at a time had a big impact and that's how the Lisbon Project started (simply a project in Lisbon) and then I ended up clinging to the name, which remains the same today. And now our vision is much bigger, for these past eight years the heart of the Lisbon Project has been a heart of community, of celebrating diversity, of being effective and giving opportunities to people.
The Challenges of Starting at 23
3. What were the main challenges at the beginning of this project?
Gabriela: The challenges were many, I was 23 years old and I learned everything “on the job”, trying to support one person at a time. One of the lessons learned was realizing that I didn't have to be everything to everyone — I had to be ready to learn and do a little bit of everything, but above all to surround myself with people who knew more than me in certain areas. Never be intimidated by the experience or intelligence of others, instead, be grateful, listen, and guide that knowledge with the right values to maximize impact.
Another constant challenge was time management. When working to help those who are in vulnerability, there is a temptation to work non-stop. After all, they are people who need help. However, life doesn't stand still — children grow up, seasons pass, and friendships change. I learned to better prioritize my time, to protect my free time, and to work with more excellence. Motherhood taught me how to triple the work in half the time!
I also faced moments of loss: from our flooded headquarters, the sudden departure of key team members, the pandemic closing doors, or funding that didn't arrive. Each loss, however, brought wisdom, innovation, and space for new leadership to emerge.
Of course, raising funds in Portugal was (and still is) a big challenge. The corporate social responsibility sector is underdeveloped and there has been a lot of skepticism from the outset about donating financially to NGOs. It was necessary to gain trust and, little by little, to help create a new culture of solidarity.
The Growth of a Community
4. Does the Lisbon Project compete with public entities or does it complement existing work?
Gabriela: The Lisbon Project was born to complement the work that already existed. The public system in Portugal provides essential administrative support, but we realize that this alone is not enough to guarantee true integration. That's why our focus is on supporting language learning, access to employment, housing and education, and above all community building — helping each person rebuild their life in Portugal.
5. How did people get to the Lisbon Project and how did your team evolve?
Gabriela: It all started very much by word of mouth. I had an office in Lumiar and word spread among the refugees, one person told the other: “there's a girl who can help” and that's how they started to reach us. We also never did any brand campaigns and in addition to “pass the word”, we only have a super explanatory website.
In relation to our team, I initially mobilized my network of friends, family and acquaintances. Over time, we structured our support, always listening to the voice of the community, trying to understand what were the biggest challenges they faced and how we could help them. Today we have six full-time people, about 200 volunteers a week and 20 interns. All volunteers undergo onboarding and have hybrid functions, nothing is totally remote, because the heart of the project is community and human contact.
Financing and Partnerships
6. How are they financed? And do they work together with other public entities?
Gabriela: The Lisbon Project is 100% funded by private entities. Around 50% come from private, monthly or one-off donors, and the rest from companies and foundations. From the beginning, we chose not to rely on public funding, which makes us a rare case in Portugal.
In relation to other entities, we seek to establish partnerships with organizations - public and private, at different levels - that share our values and mission. We believe that the stronger and more aligned this network is, the greater the impact and effectiveness of our work with the communities we serve. Even when direct funding is not possible, we always seek ways to collaborate and add value through other synergies.
7. Are you able to respond to all the requests that come to you?
Gabriela: Unfortunately, we are not always able to respond immediately to all requests, because the demand for our services is immense. But we believe in a holistic approach: while someone waits for a Portuguese course, they can participate in community dinners, youth, women's and children's groups, or cultural events that promote integration and create relationships. We always try to be clear and close in our communication, so that each person knows how and when they will have access to the support they need. And when we don't have the answer at home, we forward it to partners who can provide it. Our commitment is that no one stands idly by — there's always a way to get involved, learn and grow with us.
8. Are the weekly dinners you mentioned only for the Lisbon Project community?
Gabriela: No, they're dinners open to everyone. Every Wednesday between 19:00 and 20:00, anyone can come to the Lisbon Project. We often have companies that participate as volunteers. But anyone can come, especially since the context in Portugal has changed, both socially and politically and we increasingly feel the need to involve the local community. This is because we consider that there is an increasing “gap”, where immigrants, expatriates and Portuguese are in different groups and the Lisbon Project intentionally seeks to bring all these groups together in order to get to know each other, with the objective of building a more cohesive community.
9. Do you also organize fundraising events?
We have been organizing several solidarity events that fill us with joy and bring the community closer together — such as the soccer tournament in October, the padel tournament in June, music concerts and fundraising dinners. These moments create awareness, strengthen partnerships, and celebrate the mission of the Lisbon Project.
However, the most impactful way to support is to become a monthly donor. Monthly donors guarantee the continuity and sustainability of our work, while becoming an active part of our community. They receive our newsletters, they can become involved as volunteers and participate depending on the time and availability they have. Thus, not only do they support transformative projects, but they take an active role in the construction of Lisbon and the Portugal that we want for the future.
To donate to the Lisbon Project, simply access the following link: https://www.lisbonproject.org/donate
Future Vision
10. How do you describe the Lisbon Project today?
Gabriela: Nowadays, the Lisbon Project seeks to be a “One Stop Shop” for migrants and refugees. In other words, we offer everything from Portuguese classes, support for employability and bureaucracy, to essential goods and cultural activities.
Above all, we want to provide holistic support to those who seek us and help them to trace their paths, with the tools that we can provide. And sometimes, when it's not within our reach, we resort to the help of our partners.
Our vision and desire for the future is to expand beyond Lisbon. We see the current context and recognize both the needs of our country and the importance of immigration to respond to those needs - but also the urgency to invest in better integration. Therefore, we want to work more and more closely with companies, local communities and all sectors of society, building together a more inclusive and sustainable future.
11. Back to talking a bit about Gabriela: what was it like to start all of this at just 23 years old?
Gabriela: My goal was to work in human rights, in an NGO, I did several internships in Africa and Asia, because my idea was really to go out into the world and be with the most vulnerable peoples, help them and contribute to my life, my talent and my energy.
And very unexpectedly, the Lisbon Project was born, because my eyes saw the reality of what was happening in Portugal and I felt that I had to do something, so I ended up staying here.
The beginning of the Lisbon Project was a mixture of courage and a bit of madness, that is, not realizing much of what we are doing, but simply doing it! It was also a pioneering spirit, of not thinking too much and above all of going forward.
I remember an episode that happened in our first year, in which a group of refugee ladies from Syria and Iraq told me that they had never been to the beach. So the following week I organized a trip to the beach with about 40 people and without knowing very well what it would be like, thanks to that optimistic spirit we managed to make everything go well.
12. And how has your leadership evolved over time?
Gabriela: As the organization grew, I had to move from spontaneous leadership to more strategic and intentional leadership. Today it's not so much about doing the job myself, but about building a team that understands the vision, mobilizing the right people to contribute their talents, and ensuring that we all work at the same pace and in the same direction.
13. Have you been able to reconcile all of this with your personal life?
Gabriela: I married three weeks after starting the project and in the meantime I had two daughters. It was an intense phase, but even motherhood gave me more confidence and courage to lead. After all, if I can take care of two human beings, I can manage an organization.
14. Can you tell us a little more about volunteering?
Gabriela: At Lisbon Project, we believe that each person has something valuable to offer, so volunteering can happen in many different ways. Our community is a world of activities: from teaching Portuguese, supporting children with explanations, cooking at community events, advising them in the search for employment, to collaborating in areas such as human resources or fundraising. There's always a way to contribute your talents and time. To see all the vacancies available and apply, simply access www.lisbonproject.org/volunteer
15. Can you leave us a final message?
Gabriela: We can't underestimate the power of small actions. If we love the country in which we live, we also have a responsibility to contribute to its future. The Lisbon Project's mission represents our collective commitment to empathy, efficiency, and inclusion. Our lives have value and our love for others makes the difference. Whether donating or volunteering, your action counts - and together we build a more just and humane future. May we be a generous people, both with our time and also with our resources!
Impact Numbers
- +7,000 migrants and refugees supported
- +1,500 volunteers mobilized
- 600 members supported monthly
Visit the Lisbon Project Website: https://www.lisbonproject.org/
