BNP Paribas Fundação Portugal announces the winning projects of the “Futuro com Sentido” initiative, with total support of €250,000

• A support of €250,000: The Foundation will allocate this amount, distributed over two years, to promote the inclusion and employability of NEET youth (young people who are Not in Education, Employment, or Training).
• TESE (Faz-Te Forward): With €125,000 in funding, this project will empower 60 young people from the Lisbon and Porto Metropolitan areas, focusing on skill development and the transition to the labor market.
• Lifeshaker (Jobs Airport – Open Gates): Also supported with €125,000, this project will work with 270 young people from vulnerable communities in Monte da Caparica, promoting their empowerment and skill development in the field of entrepreneurship.

Lisbon, October 13 – The BNP Paribas Foundation Portugal today announced the two winning organizations of the “Futuro com Sentido” (Future with Purpose) initiative, a program launched as part of its strategic commitment to promoting Social Inclusion through Employment. The initiative was specifically designed to support young people between the ages of 16 and 34 who are currently NEET or at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), facing an increased risk of social exclusion.

The initiative is particularly relevant within the national context, where more than 185,000 young people are not studying, working, or undergoing training, according to the latest data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Indeed, although the NEET youth rate stabilized at 8.7% in the first quarter of 2026, transition difficulties remain significant. Of the young people in this situation in the last quarter of 2025, only 18.4% managed to transition into employment in early 2026, and 15% entered education or training.

The selection of these organizations was based on precise eligibility criteria: they must be non-profit organizations legally established in Portugal, with at least two years of existence, and demonstrate proven experience working with NEET youth over the last three years. The selection process took place in several stages, including an initial assessment of applications, an in-depth analysis of criteria related to mission, implementation capacity, team experience, among others, followed by an interview phase and a final evaluation of the strategic alignment of both the association and the project with the Foundation’s objectives in this area.

Beyond financial support, the “Futuro com Sentido” program distinguishes itself by establishing as comprehensive a collaboration as possible between the two selected organizations and, above all, with BNP Paribas Portugal. This includes the organization of skills-based volunteering by BNP Paribas Portugal employees, who will develop activities based on their areas of expertise in response to the needs of the selected associations and the young beneficiaries participating in the projects. T