Vocational training and access to employment in Paraiba

Location : The project takes place in 2 towns, Pombal and Patos, in Paraiba State in the Northeast of Brazil.

Objective :
The project started in 2008 and aims to improve the social and economic integration of disadvantaged populations in these 2 towns.

Actions :
In association with 3 local partner NGOs:
-  Training vocational orientation agents (AOP).
-  Identifying and selecting beneficiaries.
-  Holding vocational training courses of 200 h aimed at 700 people annually in the clothing or building industry, etc.
-  Holding personal skills training (self-confidence, citizenship, gender relations).
- Setting up 3 departments for orientation, placement and monitoring for the employment market.
-  Support for setting up independent activities.

Results already achieved :
- Since April 2008, 236 people have thus been trained in the clothing, food and civil construction industries, a further 298 will be trained by the end of 2008, making a total of 534 for 2008 (mainly women and young people). We estimate that the economic integration rate for those receiving training is 30% (employment and independent activities).
- It is already possible to observe significant changes within participating families in terms of increased confidence and awareness of their problems.

Direct beneficiaries: 2100 young people and adults will have carried out a vocational project and 60% of them will have been integrated into the employment market.
Indirect beneficiaries: the families of people integrated into the market whose income will increase.

Local partners :
- 2 Brazilian NGOs: CEMAR and ASDP
- Locally: the institutions SENAC and SENAI and training organizations
- Financial partners: the  European Commission, Lord Michelham of Hellingly Foundation, and companies and private individuals in France.