On the company’s 70th anniversary, the project aims to bring the history of the municipality back to life through the verbal memory of its inhabitants.

Votorantim Cimentos, in partnership with Instituto Museu da Pessoa and with the support of Instituto Avisa Lá, has just launched the Memória Local na Escola (Local Memory at the School) Project in Votorantim.

Developed with the Local Government of Votorantim, by means of the Municipal Department of Education at municipal public schools, the project aims to bring the history of the municipality back to life by means of the verbal memory of its inhabitants, and also to contribute toward the improvement of the reading and writing practices of the students, which produce texts and documents based on the material collected.

Memória Local na Escola consists of work aimed to bring the history of municipalities where the Votorantim Group operates back to life by gathering testimonials from the older townspeople. In Votorantim, the project will continue for nine months and will involve around 900 students from the 3rd to 4th grades.

"Memória Local na Escola is yet another item of proof that Votorantim believes that investing in the memory and history of the local culture of the communities where it is active means to go further than social responsibility. It means having a commitment with the future and an engagement to keep with Brazil", declares Marcelo Monteiro, Manager of the Salto and Santa Helena Units.

During the first months preparation and support obtainment activities are conducted for students and teachers from partner schools that – after learning the research dynamics – go out on the streets interviewing people, gathering information, examining photos and data. Besides collecting testimonials, the children also produce drawings with a basis on the discoveries made in their research, which are subsequently put on display at an exhibition.

To develop the project, Votorantim Cimentos will receive consulting services from Museu da Pessoa, an organization specialized in the deployment of entrepreneurial and local memory programs. In turn, this organization banks on the advice of Instituto Avisa Lá, a non-governmental organization specialized in teacher training, which developed the pedagogic part of the project.

The Memória Local na Escola project is in its first version and will take place simultaneously in the cities of Votorantim (São Paulo), São Miguel Paulista, a neighborhood of São Paulo, and Itapeva (São Paulo), which house units of Votorantim Cimentos (Cement), Votorantim Química (Chemicals), Votorantim Metais (Metals), and of VCP (Votorantim Celulose e Papel – Paper and Pulp). All the initiatives are coordinated by Instituto Votorantim.

About Votorantim Cimentos

Votorantim Cimentos is one of the top ten global cement, concrete and mortar companies. With 25 production units in Brazil and seven in North America, where over eight thousand collaborators work, Votorantim Cimentos invests heavily in innovation, technology and quality. It was a pioneer in the co-processing of waste, contributing toward 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 lime line, it sells the Itau and Votoran brands. In 2004, Votorantim Cimentos attained the threshold of R$ 4.8 billion in net income, maintaining the leadership of the cement and concrete markets, 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.

Service

ROLLOUT OF THE MEMÓRIA LOCAL NAS ESCOLAS PROJECT Date: March 23, 2006 Place: Auditório Municipal Franscisco Beranger (municipal auditorium) Address: Av. Ver. Newton Vieira Soares, s/n - Votorantim (São Paulo) Time: 7:30 p.m