It often happens that the best ideas are very simple but have a great impact on society. During the month of February the Slu Madrid community was united for a good cause. The name chosen for the contest says it all, “1 smile 1 euro”. For each smile uploaded on Facebook, the University would donate 1 euro for a good cause.

 

The idea originated in the Marketing department where students Randa Medina and Silvia Fernández-Renau collaborate to liven SLU Madrid´s Social Media channels. “We were thinking about ways to get people to be an active part of our Social Media, as a way to enhance a sense of community and also to create a successful viral action on Facebook” explains Randa. The students wanted the money to go to those who do not have the opportunity to study and did some research about what associations work to make education available to all. “People get together for a good cause much more than they do to get something for themselves and since we are all university students, we thought people would be motivated by this cause” explains Silvia.

The NGO chosen was Entreculturas, a Jesuit NGO that prioritizes education over other needs in their work all over the world. The specific project provides education to the children that live in the Refugee Camps in the Horn of Africa. This effort adds up to previous ones (Bake Sales and other fund raisers) that have collected nearly 500 euros for this humanitarian emergency.

Once the contest ended the two students, accompanied by Ana Aizpún, held a meeting with Belén Nadal from the Departamento de Comunicación, Campañas y Socios and Deyanira Hernández, Product Manager at Entreculturas. During this meeting the students were interviewed by the NGO and a symbolic check was given to the organization.