Making the World a Better Place
This is a phrase we use a lot. On this page, we'll lay out what we do to make the world a better place.
We live in a time when many of us feel disconnected — from each other, from our communities, and from a sense of shared purpose. At Lisbon Sun Setters, we believe that real change begins with reconnection: rebuilding the bonds that hold communities together, and remembering that we are not separate individuals competing for scarce resources, but interdependent beings who thrive when we give, receive, and belong.
Our approach is inspired by thinkers like Charles Eisenstein, who reminds us that community, gift, and interconnection are not just ideals — they are the foundation of a more beautiful world.
Build Community
We believe community is a hugely important part of improving the world — and something that has been lost in many areas of modern society.
In a world increasingly defined by isolation and transactional relationships, community is an act of resistance and healing. When we know our neighbors, when we show up for each other, when we create spaces where people feel truly seen and valued — we begin to repair the fabric of society itself. Community is not a luxury; it's a necessity for human flourishing.
We want to create spaces and take initiatives that facilitate genuine connection with new people and build an ecosystem where people know and support each other. Through beach volleyball, we've discovered that play, vulnerability, and shared purpose are powerful catalysts for belonging.
Giving
We give 10% of our revenue to local projects and organizations that are doing what we consider to be good work.
Giving is how we remember our interconnection. When we give, we acknowledge that we are part of a larger whole — that our abundance is meant to flow, not to stagnate. Giving ripples outward in ways we often cannot see: it transforms not only those who receive, but also those who give, reminding us of our capacity to make a difference and our responsibility to each other.
We believe giving a percentage of revenue is more significant than giving a percentage of profit, because profit can disappear entirely. By committing to give from our revenue, we're saying that generosity is not an afterthought — it's central to who we are.
Our giving journey:
In our first few months, we gave away 100% of our profit. We didn't pay ourselves anything. After purchasing new balls and a net, the rest of the money we had raised went directly to local projects and organizations.
We gave away [x amount of money] to support local initiatives.
We committed to setting aside 10% of our revenue for giving. So far, we've donated €500, and we have over €1,000 set aside that we're carefully considering how to allocate — we want to make sure it goes where it can make the most impact.
Volunteering
Most of the founders and organizing team at Lisbon Sun Setters have been volunteering since we started. We are reaching a point where we can begin to compensate our team for their work — which is a relief — but LSS would not exist without thousands of hours of volunteering.
This reflects a deeper truth: much of the most important work being done in the world is unpaid. Caring for others, building community, creating beauty, protecting the earth — these acts of love often don't generate profit. Yet they are the foundation upon which everything else rests. We honor the volunteers who give their time and energy, and we recognize that true wealth is measured not in money, but in the relationships and communities we build together.
We also want to encourage people to volunteer in other fields and areas beyond beach volleyball. We have plans to facilitate volunteering opportunities at other organizations and projects within our community — because we believe in lifting up all the good work being done in Lisbon.
Inclusivity & Accessibility
We believe that access is justice. When we remove barriers to participation — whether financial, social, or physical — we create space for everyone to belong and contribute.
This is why we offer sliding-scale membership fees, beginner-friendly trainings, and a culture of radical welcome. We believe beach volleyball should not be reserved for the elite or the experienced; it belongs to everyone. By making the sport accessible, we're not just growing beach volleyball — we're saying that joy, community, and movement are human rights, not privileges.
Inclusivity also means celebrating the diversity of our community. We welcome people of all backgrounds, abilities, ages, and experiences. Our international community is our greatest strength — it reminds us that we are part of something larger than ourselves, and that our differences make us richer, not weaker.