You might think that sustainability and interculturality don't have much in common, but anyone who joined our TEDxAveiro Salon - EATWISE this past Saturday at the beautiful old train station in Aveiro knows that’s simply not true.

This TEDx event was our official multiplier event for the international EATWISE project (“Empowering All Together With Inclusive Sustainable Eating”). This is a strategic partnership under the Erasmus+ program, linking organizations from 6 EU countries, and it gave us one of those powerful moments that refuel our passion.

We brought together over 60 curious and engaged participants for a deep dive into sustainability, healthy eating, intercultural exchange, and inclusion. The event perfectly demonstrated how all these areas intersect and reinforce one another.

We had three fantastic speakers: Maria José Valinhas, who gave us uncomplicated wisdom, ideas, and actionable paths toward a more resilient and conscious life; Pedro Amaro Santos, who shared the transformative work of his NGO, MEERU - Abrir caminho; and Carla Ladeira, who charmed us with the story of her garden and the seeds that connect people and cultures. The discussion continued in a panel moderated by Professor José Carlos Mota, who helped us deepen the connections between food, community, and active citizenship.

During the event, we showcased the intellectual outputs we’ve been developing with our international partners under the EATWISE project: the CookBook, created with contributions from migrants across all involved countries; the Good Practices Guide, where we compiled lessons learned in focus groups on how to live and eat more sustainably and affordably; and the Training Manual, packed with activities for educators who want to work on these themes with young people. Participants even got an exclusive sneak peek at the working version of the EATWISE documentary, whose final version will be launched on our channels very soon!

And if all that wasn't enough, we announced our next step: an online multiplier event in partnership with the restaurant Sal Poente, where we’ll keep the conversation going about gastronomy, sustainability, and interculturality.

We left this TEDx EATWISE event feeling incredibly proud and totally energized. This project proves to us, day after day, that food is one of the simplest ways to tackle climate change issues and, even more beautifully, one of the best ways to build bridges between people, cultures, and toward a better future for everyone.

Joana Ivonia, one of our participants, shared her testimonial with us:

“Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to learn about the Eatwise project from the Agora Aveiro association at an informal TEDx Salon. In my opinion, the event succeeded in bringing people closer to the topic of food. The meeting led us to discover a beautiful, well-restored space in the city of Aveiro, and to reflect on themes that rarely fit into the accelerated rhythm of daily life. Of the three invited speakers, I already knew two—Carla and Zé Valinhas—friends whose marvelous journey towards the common good I have long followed, with a spirit of total resilience. Pedro was also familiar to me, but it was particularly enriching to hear him speak about something that, at first glance, seems simple: the way we eat and its connection to cultural diversity. What, how, and with whom we eat has a direct impact on our lives and collective life, and that broadened perspective made all the difference. I left this meeting richer and with more knowledge about the link between food, interculturality, and tolerance—topics that, for me, are now absolutely essential and should always be on the table, openly and consciously, inviting the community to reflect. There was also space to share contacts, exchange ideas, and even brainstorm concrete actions—real ways to start changing the world from within our small one. I continue to believe that small changes, made in community, can truly transform the world. It was a privilege to participate and witness the strength of projects that bring people closer, broaden perspectives, and invite action, opening pathways of hope for humanity.”

Stay tuned for more news and ideas from the EATWISE project! And… let’s keep changing the world, one plate at a time.

This event was carried out within the scope of the "EATWISE" project, organized by Popoli Insieme in partnership with Agora Aveiro Strategic Partnerships in the field of youth (KA220-YOU) of the Erasmus+ program. It also has the support of the Municipality of Aveiro.