The Aço Cearense Institute contributes to the social development of the communities of Ceará, Pará and Tocantins, where Aço Cearense Comercial, Aço Cearense Industrial, SINOBRAS and SINOBRAS FLORESTAL, companies of the Group, are located by supporting institutions’ initiatives strengthening people’s engagement in actions that contribute to their growth and the communities where they live.
With more than R $ 14 million invested in these actions, 174 institutions have already been served, totaling more than 81 thousand people benefited. Among the supported projects are assistance to children and young people in socially vulnerable situations, associations for people with disabilities and entities that care for the elderly and also for people with diabetes and hypertension, in addition to athletes from Ceará who receive sponsorship from the Institute for standing out on the local and national sports scene.
According to Rosemeire Matos, president of the Institute, reaching 11 years of work with the communities is the compensation of a job dreamed from many hearts. “Our effort materializes in smiles whenever we are able to carry out an action from Instituto Aço Cearense. We are very proud of our trajectory that moves the third sector, not only in economic terms, but providing conditions of greater quality of life to countless people who need it ”, explains the president.
In 2010, the Aço Cearense Institute started as an assistance service, carrying out internal actions for employees. Then the initiative was transformed into the WMA Institute, which, with the need to further strengthen the brand, was renamed the Instituto Aço Cearense. Today, it serves several needy institutions, in addition to developing the communities surrounding the Group’s companies by promoting sports, education, the arts and entrepreneurship.
In 2020, the Aço Cearense Institute celebrated its 10th anniversary when it was surprised in the midst of its celebrations for the Covid-19 pandemic. Many activities were suspended and many others adapted to the new moment that the world still faces today. But, with the strength and perseverance of those who make this gear move, many actions could be taken to minimize the impact of the pandemic on the lives of many people in situations of vulnerability.
As a way of mitigating the effects of the pandemic, basic food baskets were donated to needy families and workers directly affected by the pandemic, such as musicians and event professionals. Also hygiene kits, containing shampoo, bleach, soap, toothpaste, disinfectant, detergent and washing powder, distributed to communities in Pará and Ceará, in addition to a thousand masks for families in Ceará. The institute also carried out, through SINOBRAS, the assignment of ten oxygen cylinders to the Secretariat of Health of Marabá, with the objective of helping in the recovery of infected people.