The Mosqueteiros Group launches a special Christmas edition of the “Por Nossa Conta. Juntos pelos Estudantes” project this Tuesday, aimed at supporting young students who need to relocate for their studies. A total of “80 tuition fees” will be given out, equivalent to 56,000 euros in shopping vouchers.
Inspired by the Christmas spirit and following the success of the first edition, the Mosqueteiros Group decided to roll out this special holiday version of “Por Nossa Conta. Juntos pelos Estudantes”.
Rita Ferreira, Communications and Information Director at Mosqueteiros Group, explained that this initiative emerged from the desire of the Group to be closer to communities, particularly young people who relocate for their studies.
“We know that this stage of life involves significant financial challenges for many families, not just the tuition fees but also rent, food, and transportation costs,” she continued.
For Ferreira, the mission of Mosqueteiros Group is “to improve people’s daily quality of life by fighting against costly expenses,” and this project is aligned with that ambition.
“By directly supporting university students, we alleviate part of the financial burden and contribute to more young people continuing their studies with peace of mind and confidence,” she said.
First edition attracted nearly four thousand applications
When asked if the 3,546 applications from the first edition reflect the current state of the country, Rita Ferreira agreed, stating, “The massive response to the first edition showed us a real and urgent need to support young people and their families. The rising cost of living—felt at all levels—makes access to higher education increasingly challenging. Receiving almost four thousand applications in just a few weeks reveals the current context: many students require this support, and many families feel this burden every day.”
“Por Nossa Conta. Juntos pelos Estudantes” aims to support university students who live more than 50 kilometers from their official residence. Initially, this was the exclusive target group of the project.
“The first edition was focused solely on students who have to relocate because they face the highest costs. However, the feedback we received and the current context have shown us that difficulties are not restricted to students who live far from home,” Ferreira highlighted.
Thus, in this Christmas edition, Mosqueteiros Group sought “to extend the initiative to all university students,” as they believe “solidarity shouldn’t have restrictions and everyone should have the opportunity to help a friend in need of this support.”
How are applications made? And how are candidates selected?
For this application process, which starts this Tuesday, December 9, the candidate doesn’t apply themselves. Instead, it is a friend or colleague who must register the candidate in “Por Nossa Conta. Juntos pelos Estudantes.”
“This concept was born from the Christmas spirit. This is the season for sharing, generosity, and mutual help. We wanted to create a special moment within the project, something that encourages young people to be aware of others around them who might benefit from this help. Therefore, in this edition, one does not apply for oneself: one applies to ‘give’ the tuition fee to a friend,” explained Rita Ferreira.
She added, “We believe this altruistic gesture perfectly reflects what the Mosqueteiros Group represents as a community-focused company—caring for people and communities.”
Ferreira stated that candidate selection is carried out by a jury consisting of representatives from the Mosqueteiros Group, and the evaluation is “focused on the submitted letter.”
“We want to understand the story, the context, and the real impact this support could have on the life of the nominated student. We value authenticity, sensitivity, and the way candidates express why their friend deserves support,” she explained.
“The idea of applying for a friend is very powerful”
The winners from each district and autonomous region in this Christmas edition will receive 80 tuition fees, equating to 56,000 euros in shopping vouchers (700 euros per student), which can be used at Mosqueteiros Group brands: Intermarché, Bricomarché, and Roady.
“This allows students and their families to manage the support in the most beneficial way for their daily life—be it for food, DIY materials, household items, or car maintenance,” she stated.
Applications run from today, December 9, until December 16. Although there is a limit of 1,500 applications, Rita Ferreira expressed confidence that this special edition will surpass expectations and achieve strong participation.
“The idea of applying for a friend is very powerful and aligns well with this time of year,” she emphasized.
Rita Ferreira also highlighted the feedback received from the first edition of this initiative, noting it was “extremely positive and, above all, very emotional.”
“Many young people shared with us that this support made a real difference in their family budget, allowing them greater stability and focus on their studies,” she noted, adding that such feedback motivates the group to continue.
Ferreira noted that the Mosqueteiros Group understands “this initiative goes far beyond the monetary value of the tuition fee; it represents tranquility, hope, and recognition at an important time in these young people’s lives.”
It is important to note that applications run from December 9 to December 16.
How to participate?
Applications must be submitted here. The first step is to choose the friend you believe deserves to win the vouchers, then fill out a form and explain why your friend should be the winner. The final step is to share on social media.
