Carina Dantas, CEO of SHINE 2Europe, was part of a COST Programme delegation to the United Nations General Assembly satellite events in New York, between 12 and 15 September.
These included a reception at the European Union Delegation to the United Nations where she was one of four speakers presenting the work of the COST Action, which she presides, to members of the European Union Delegation, the United Nations, representatives of member states, ambassadors and American representatives from various fields.
This journey began in 2017 with the creation of the SHAFE concept, which stands for Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments and aims to promote happier and healthier communities, created by Carina Dantas in collaboration with Willeke van Staalduinen from AFEdemy (Netherlands).
Carina Dantas mentions that “SHAFE began with naive enthusiasm, as small things do. Thanks to many committed organisations and individuals, we turned a small conviction and dream into a solid movement.” Later, SHAFE, implemented through the COST NET4Age-Friendly Action, was recognised as a Good Practice for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and currently has more than 700 members in 51 countries.
The SHAFE concept is the driving force behind many projects that have been developed at SHINE 2Europe, a socially oriented applied research organisation that doesn’t aim to make a profit, but rather to mobilise resources to implement innovative initiatives in favour of the community. One of these projects, which was also highlighted during the visit to New York, is SIRENE, a Coordination and Support Action for the European Commission, funded under the Horizon Europe programme and coordinated by SHINE.
By bringing together technology, health and social support, housing, the environment and communities, it is possible to promote intelligent, adaptable and inclusive solutions that help improve and support independent living throughout the life course, regardless of age, gender, disabilities, cultural differences and personal choices.
The future project will be the SHAFE Foundation, currently being implemented, to further exploit the results and this broad network in favour of our communities.