Alstom Foundation supports expansion of Instituto Reciclar in economic inclusion program for young people in São Paulo

With the support of Alstom Foundation, Instituto Reciclar will significantly expand the reach of its educational program in 2025. 180 new young people will take part in the training, doubling the number of 90 participants in 2024. Considering the three modules of the program, the total number of people served will increase from 220 to 330, marking an important step forward in the mission to reduce social inequalities and create opportunities for young people in vulnerable situations.

The project helps participants develop technical and socio-emotional skills, essential for their professional careers. The technical stage of the program includes in-person workshops on design thinking, “life projects” and tutoring in mathematics, Portuguese and English. The socio-emotional module works on skills such as creativity, teamwork, communication and proactivity.

In the second stage, the focus turns to professional training, with technical training in leading schools and access to an online educational platform, which complements learning with the development of cognitive skills and proficiency in English. Finally, the program works to insert young people into the job market, connecting them to employment and internship opportunities at partner companies. This approach aims not only to prepare young people for the market, but also to empower them to build a solid and sustainable career.

"Alstom Foundation seeks strategic partnerships that generate lasting social impact. This project, in collaboration with Instituto Reciclar, demonstrates our commitment to investing in local communities, empowering young people and contributing to the economic and social development of São Paulo", says Ana Caiasso, Alstom’s Director of Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility for Latin America.

"In this significant year for Instituto Reciclar, in which we celebrate 30 years of operation, we are honored to have the partnership of Alstom Foundation to transform the lives of young people. The partnership is in line with the growth in the number of young people impacted by the Educational Program, offering more opportunities for the qualified and sustainable insertion of young people into the job market. Together, we are building new paths and opening doors to a promising future for young people in vulnerable situations," says Carlos Henrique de Lima, Executive Director of Instituto Reciclar.

The initiative seeks to expand study and employability opportunities for young Brazilians. In 2023, according to data from the Ministry of Labor's Undersecretariat for Statistics and Studies, 7.1 million young people between the ages of 14 and 24 neither studied nor worked, 60% of whom were women, the majority with young children, and 68% were black or brown. The same study indicates that 38% of young women and 46% of unemployed young adults did not complete secondary education. Faced with this scenario, education, training and professional integration initiatives are essential to offer young people a promising path to development and professional qualification, helping to build a more prosperous and inclusive future.