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After a year of management course in sustainable development, promoted by Fundação Amazônia Sustentável (FAS) and by the Center for Technological Education of Amazonas (Cetam), in partnership with Petrobras, seven projects in the interior of the state of Amazonas were selected to receive the contribution of R$ 25 thousand in the implementation of projects in riverside communities.
The project's technical team chose proposals that will also contribute to generating income in the communities, including: Padaria Freitas, in the Campo Novo community, Guia Turístico, Lanches VS, in Vila Soares, Tony's Açaí, in the Punã community, the Beauty Salon in the Punã community, Lanchonete do Ari, in the Punã community and Turismo Punã, in the Punã community.
José Albino, who won first place in the classification of projects, considers that the course was a unique opportunity. “Until then, I had never had training in the field of education. It's never too late to learn. I am now proud to be a sustainable development technician”, commented the person in charge of the project that foresees the structuring of a bakery that will supply food products to the community where he lives and the neighboring communities.
For the time being, the supply of bread in the Campo Novo community is supplied by establishments in nearby cities, which generates greater carbon emissions from transport. With the new venture, it is possible to align income generation and sustainability with support for the local economy.
The course
The new technicians in Sustainable Development Management took a 1,600-hour course over 12 months to learn about entrepreneurship and the sustainable use of natural resources. The studies were carried out through online classes, semi-presential, face-to-face with workshops and practical classes in the Punã Community, located in the vicinity of the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (RDS), in the municipality of Uarini, 550 kilometers from Manaus.
For Valcléia Solidade, superintendent of Sustainable Development of Communities at FAS, the strategy was to take training to the so-called Deep Amazon, that is, in the interior of the Amazon and where there is interest in this training, sometimes hampered by the distance from large urban centers. “The strategy is to take education where it needs to happen. This is very innovative, as we are taking the customized course to the region so that the person can take technical training without having to go to other cities like Manaus. This allowed us to maintain a high number of students and the knowledge to be used in these same locations”, evaluates Valcléia.
Each student has a story of overcoming and challenges. This is the case of young Ionara Xavier, 22 years old. With a young son, the support of the family was fundamental for the conclusion of the studies.
“When the opportunity came to me, through my uncle, I thought a lot because I have a young son and I had to take face-to-face classes. We came here three times a week, my community is an hour away, so sometimes I had to stay here, but my father always supported me”. With her diploma in hand, the young woman is already thinking about setting up a cafeteria and even helping people in the community who have no income.
For the coordinator of Special Projects at Cetam, Glauco Barros, the course demonstrates the success of the union between the institutions. “The course in question has a unique meaning for me because I followed all the stages: beginning, creation until the final phase. It is very gratifying to see the students from the communities standing out”, he commented.
The course was carried out with the support of the Amazonas State Secretariat for the Environment (Sema) and the Association of Residents and Users of RDS Mamirauá Antônio Martins (Amurman).
About the FAS
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Manaus/AM, Fundação Amazônia Sustentável (FAS) is a civil society and non-profit organization that disseminates and implements knowledge on sustainable development, contributing to the conservation of the Amazon. The institution operates with projects focused on education, entrepreneurship, sustainable tourism, innovation, health and other priority areas. By valuing the standing forest and its socio-biodiversity, FAS develops works that promote the improvement of the quality of life of riverside, indigenous and peripheral communities in the Amazon.
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