Maria Conceição, an experienced seamstress in Barcarena, expressed her excitement about participating in Estilo Barcarena, emphasizing that "the project has come to strengthen citizenship. It represents an important step for the sewing sector to embrace new knowledge and opportunities. I'm happy to be here, learning about the project. It has everything to succeed."

Developed by the Hydro Sustainability Fund (FSH), Estilo Barcarena aims to organize, implement, and manage an incubator for social economy enterprises in the sewing and tailoring sector in Barcarena. The action, coordinated by the Sustainable Barcarena Initiative (IBS), promoted a period of training workshops and Formative Trails, a preparation for the incubation phase in a collective space where 15 sewing machines donated by the FSH will be available. This process aims to train men and women from the communities in the organization of the sewing and tailoring business, stimulating those interested in developing an entrepreneurial culture and guiding them on different ways to operate in the job market.

"The project aims to train and support the installation of the incubator through the organization of a social enterprise that will work from the development of its business plan, product planning to be developed, market access, and customer acquisition," says Milene Maués, partnership manager of the FSH.

The technical training will enable the associates to learn the production stages to maintain sustainable business development practices. There will also be training for enterprise management, covering finances, purchasing, product development, fair pricing, sales, among other topics. The training will be organized in courses, to be detailed in the incubation plan.

Mobilization

The project's first action was carried out in October, with the prospecting of seamstresses and tailors from some Barcarena neighborhoods, such as Luz Divina, Vila Nova, Renascer com Cristo, Beira Rio, Vila do Conde, Bom Futuro, São Francisco, Zita Cunha, Barcarena headquarters, Cafezal, and Cabeceira Grande, in addition to members of the Manilkara Institute. They received initial training and qualification, which mainly stimulated them to participate in the job market through the formalization of enterprises and the establishment of a collective production unit in the sewing and tailoring sector.

The Estilo Barcarena Project marks a new phase in the development of the sewing and tailoring sector in Barcarena, after two experiences aimed at developing the sector: Travessia Barcarena and Estilo Travessia. Now, according to Sandra Faé, public policy coordinator of Synergia Socioambiental, a contractor hired to support the initiative, the intention is to continue the actions already developed in this area. "We want to strengthen and value the role of the tailoring sector in Barcarena, promote socio-economic inclusion of seamstresses and tailors, facilitate access to the formal job market, and encourage participation in promoting community and local development, based on solidarity culture, economic, social, and environmental sustainability," she highlights.

About the Hydro Sustainability Fund

The Hydro Sustainability Fund (FSH), a non-profit organization, was established in 2019 as a joint commitment of the Hydro, Albras, and Alunorte companies. In 2022 alone, the fund invested BRL 5.5 million in projects and social actions, including the Tipitix Project, which launched, in two years, more than 40 producers from family farming, benefiting more than 21 communities and moving around BRL 100,000 in sales in Brazil.

About the Sustainable Barcarena Initiative

The Sustainable Barcarena Initiative (IBS) is a dialogue space that brings together the effort of various social actors working together to promote and accelerate desired changes. By promoting a collaborative space, it involves communities, civil organizations, public power, educational and research institutions, among other social segments, to share concerns, discuss, and prioritize the main needs of Barcarena.