For the first time, two women from the municipality are trained for the civil construction market Votorantim Cimentos, which is at the head of one of the most avant-garde social inclusion projects organized by private enterprise, the "Futuro em Nossas Mãos" program, has just trained 47 youths for civil construction in the city of Sobral (Ceará). Three classes started the course in October and finished this month (December), including for the first time two women, Edna Duarte and Eloíde Duarte, who allege that it was a very good experience, as they had previously only watched others working and have now learned to lay bricks, apply plaster, set flooring and to prepare the plaster, skills that will be put into practice. The certificate of conclusion was handed over to the students this Monday (12.18) in a ceremony held at SENAI from Sobral with the presence of Dário Pinheiro, Jane Mascarenhas, Rosana Fernandes and Adriano Garcia, from Votorantim and of Valdir Lima, Antônio Araújo and José Martins from SENAI. The project was developed in strategic cooperation by Votorantim Cimentos and Instituto Votorantim, Sinduscon in partnership with SENAI. It is being implemented in partnership with several social furtherance entities all over the country. The general coordination of the project is the responsibility of Votorantim Cimentos. In Sobral (Ceará), the project is being implemented together with SENAI and the State Government. Besides professionalizing education, at the end of the Masonry, Wall Tile Layer and Sealing course, the youths receive a toolkit (safety goggles, PVC gloves, plummet, spirit level, aluminum straight edge, trowel, float and tape measure) to facilitate the admission of these young professionals in the market. To complete the training, they have lessons about safety and the environment, which are given by volunteers. "Futuro em Nossas Mãos", which began in 2003, has already passed through 66 cities all over Brazil and benefited 6,000 new professionals with over 300 classes concluding the courses. This year, the project is present in 29 municipalities from 11 States, and involves Votorantim Cimentos, Votorantim Metais, CBA and Votorantim Celulose e Papel, all business units of the Votorantim Group. The program has already received the Top Anamaco, Sodexho Pass and Guia de Boa Cidadania 2004 awards, was a Business Case in the Youth and Work Seminar (Pernambuco) and in the BAWB (Business as Agent of World Benefit) Conference. About Votorantim Cimentos Votorantim Cimentos is one of the top ten global cement, concrete and mortar companies. With 25 units in Brazil and seven in North America, where over eight thousand collaborators work, the company invests heavily in innovation, technology and quality. It was a pioneer in the co-processing of waste, contributing towards the sustainability of the manufacturing activity, and is involved in important social projects, in partnership with Instituto Votorantim. The company markets more than 40 products in Brazil in the areas of constructive solutions. Its main brands include Votoran, Itau, Poty, Tocantins and Aratu. In the mortar line, it operates under the Votomassa trademark. In the line of limes and agricultural inputs, it sells the Itau and Votoran brands. In 2005, Votorantim Cimentos attained the threshold of R$ 4.7 billion in net income, maintaining the leadership of the markets of cement, limes, mortars, agricultural inputs and concrete, in which it operates through Engemix. Founded in 1936, the company is part of the Votorantim Group, one of the largest corporations controlled by domestic investors, which operates in the sectors of cement, mining and metallurgy, paper and pulp, chemicals, agribusiness and finance.
Further information

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