Trading Tech for Tools

Recently, some of our awesome Minders swapped software and coding for tools and paintbrushes to help give a new look to a park in Coimbra. We’re always super proud of any Minders who volunteer their time in projects such as this one. We’ve translated the digital news as well as the newspaper article about the project.

Translation of the Digital News article:

This article was originally published in Portuguese in the newspaper Diário de Coimbra. Below, you will find its translation into English.

Mindera Coimbra joins CASPAE and “gives a new look” to the park in Planalto do Ingote (Report with video)

Mindera promoted a volunteering action with its workers who exchanged their computers for the tools and brushes needed for the requalification of the Bairros ConVida park, promoted by CASPAE.

Around 15 volunteers painted the wood and gave a new look to the pond, the tree house, and the mud kitchen that have been part of the games played by the children at Escola Básica do Ingote.

Diário de Coimbra followed part of the work and spoke to those responsible for the initiative.

Translation of the newspaper article:

"Bairros ConVida Park in Ingote Gets a 'New Look' by Mindera"

Volunteer Work: The software company, Mindera in Coimbra joined forces with CASPAE and organised a volunteer action with its employees to refurbish the park near the Ingote Elementary School.

Giving a new look to the Bairros ConVida project's park in Planalto do Ingote was the motivation for approximately 15 employees of the technology company Mindera Coimbra to trade their computers for hoes, shovels, brushes, and varnish to requalify some of the park's structures.

The Bairros ConVida park project in Planalto do Ingote emerged within the scope of Healthy Neighborhoods and the GerArte project, both promoted by CASPAE. It managed to transform a vacant lot next to the Ingote Elementary School into a proper nature park, catering to the entire Ingote community and the city of Coimbra.

"All of Mindera's initiatives stem from a group of people coming together to make things happen, and that's exactly what happened with this volunteer action in Coimbra," explained Alexandra Bigotte de Almeida, the company's communication responsible, in conversation with Diário de Coimbra.

Throughout the day, the software developers did their best to "requalify the pond" that had dried up during the summer, "fix the mud kitchen," "treat the wood of various structures, and even give a new look to the wooden house," as mentioned by Ricardo Silva, one of the workers who got their hands dirty.

"We believe that it's important to energise communities because we believe it's also part of the responsibility of companies, especially tech companies, to have these initiatives within the community," emphasised Alexandra, hoping that the initiative can "inspire other companies to do the same or join Mindera in future initiatives."

João Miguel, CASPAE's representative, highlighted Mindera's initiative because "refurbishing the park was crucial" one year after it was made available to the community.

"Everything here is perfectly imperfect," described Isabel Duque, the project's manager.

"It was all done by the children, their families, and people from the community who volunteered to help," she emphasised, recalling that the park remains one of the favourite places for the school's children to explore nature. One year later, maintenance has been primarily carried out by the Ingote Elementary School and the Union of Parishes of Eiras and São Paulo de Frades, and now by Mindera, which lent a helping hand.

"This park was created with the community and for the community," praised Isabel Duque.

The improvements were approved by the students, who, during the afternoon break, did not forget to thank those involved in the park's refurbishment, which is part of recess time and the educational program promoted by the school, as explained by Isabel Duque.