Investing in People education empowers change

Published on 26 March 2007

Strewn over the hills around many cities are the favelas, Brazil’s shanty towns. These are a home to a million people, many of whom live below the poverty line. Favelas are rough places to live in and the chances that youngsters get sucked into a life of crime or drugs are high,

In an ongoing project, SHV Gas Brasil, under the brand name Supergasbras, helps youngsters from the Zona Este Favela in Rio de Janeiro, by offering the vocational courses ranging from cooking to carpentry, welding to office work.

Course duration varies from six to twelve months. Supergasbras employees are personally involved in this project, as patrons to the youngsters. A major challenge is helping the youngsters get a job when the courses end.

A second long term investment initiated by Minasgas, also an SHV Gas Brasil brand, offers students from the favelas the opportunity to back in to the classroom and bridge the educational gap between themselves and students who have enjoyed a better education. The classes are organized by two Non Governmental Organizations, CEASM and CARE. Minasgas employees take on the role of coach and work with their students to help them prepare for University entrance examinitions.

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