FROM HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS TO EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM
Life often takes us down unexpected paths, shaping us through experiences that challenge our worldviews and open new horizons. This is the case of Tomás Magalhães, whose journey began in England but whose destiny brought him back to his Portuguese roots, where his true mission would be revealed.
Born on English soil to Portuguese parents, Tomás grew up in Portugal and graduated in physics, drawn by the great philosophical questions and the desire to teach. He then pursued a master's degree in Nanotechnology, but it still did not satisfy his thirst for a direct and immediate impact on people's lives.
It was then that he decided to focus on a new path: social entrepreneurship. His journey towards effective altruism was not just a career change but a profound personal transformation, driven by witnessing poverty and extreme need in places like India during his travels.
His commitment to effective altruism led him to found the organization Kolkata Relief, which seeks to maximize the impact of each action by focusing on pragmatic solutions to urgent problems. Tomás and his team work tirelessly to provide direct aid to the most needy communities, distributing essential items, establishing community centers, and sharing knowledge with other NGOs.
Kolkata Relief is supported by donations raised through the online platform. Tomás highlights the importance of monthly donations, even if small, which ensure a more predictable and sustainable financial flow, allowing proper planning for future needs.
MESH felt solidarity with Kolkata Relief and challenged Tomás to create a jewelry line related to the origin of the association. From this collaboration was born the Bangla line, in homage to the Bengali people from the area where the seed of the association was planted. Bangla (in Portuguese Bengali) is the official language of the peoples of the Bay of Bengal, where the city of Calcutta is currently located. It is a strong and poetic language of a people who carry a nostalgia similar to that of the Portuguese people. Each piece of jewelry from this line contributes to a Relief Kit that includes: a tent, a first aid kit, a mosquito net, and a book.
During the pandemic, when they were unable to travel and the association suffered a forced halt, Tomás felt the need to continue impacting society and use his free time to start a disruptive project - Despolariza. We took advantage of our interview to learn more about this project that has grown exponentially and features special guests including Carlos Fiolhais, Eamonn Butler, Miguel Poiares Maduro, Miguel Milhão, and many more.
#DESPOLARIZA PODCAST, HOW DID IT COME ABOUT?
"I've always really liked philosophy and was reading about tribalism and our difficulty in communicating with each other and disagreeing in a friendly way, so during the pandemic with the little free time I had, I thought about starting a blog about this. So I started DESPOLARIZA.PT, inspired by a very good American blog called Wait but Why, to talk essentially about polarization and these issues in a scientific way, but at the same time light and fun. By chance, the blog went very well; the very first article reached a wide audience."
#HAVE YOU ALWAYS HAD GUESTS ON THE PODCAST? OR DID YOU START ALONE?
"I haven't had the courage to make a video with just me talking; I always have the company of other people. I am quite creative and perfectionist, I always have several ideas for videos, to 'despolarize' some subjects and themes, but when I start recording, it seems I don't like being just me. With the company of other people, it becomes easier, I confess."
#WHAT IS YOUR CRITERION FOR CHOOSING GUESTS?
"If I think I will learn something, it will be interesting for those watching at home, and ultimately to ensure visibility. The idea was just to be a blog where I wrote occasionally, and then I started to take it more seriously. It ends up being a form of entrepreneurship."
#DESPOLARIZA, WHAT'S NEXT?
"I don't have defined goals. What I would like is to hold an event solely about polarization and have experts from all over the world on this subject to talk; the person helping me try to realize this project thinks I am quite ambitious, but I want to see what I can do. Start participating in protests, talk to people about the subject and disagree in a positive way. Write a book. Become more financially sustainable."
Today, Tomás's legacy is an inspiration to all of us, reminding us of the transformative power of commitment and compassion. All of this is proof that, through dedication and the pursuit of the common good, we can truly make the world a better place.
FOLLOW
Despolariza
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NAFyf1Nvoysv5eBFepS5c?si=375efcf11421451f
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjMzepu7e36usUEWU2wfHvg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/despolariza/
Kolkata Relief
https://kolkatar.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kolkatarelief/