Social projects that combine knowledge with access to resources help participants strengthen their businesses, achieve financial independence, and open up new opportunities

From a small garment factory that began serving companies and creating jobs to a craftsperson who learned to calculate the value of each piece and now shares her knowledge with other women. The stories of Daniela Pacheco and Adriana Ferreira share a common thread: a transformation brought about by access to training and resources to invest in their businesses.

Both participated in the Entrepreneurship course offered by the “Building the Future” project, organized by the Ramacrisna Institute in partnership with Petrobras through the Petrobras Socio-Environmental Program. The initiative offers training both for people who wish to start a business and for those who are already entrepreneurs and want to structure their business as a source of income, covering topics such as planning, pricing, and management, in addition to facilitating investments in equipment and materials.

The results of these opportunities will be highlighted on October 5, Entrepreneur’s Day, a date that draws attention to those who create and run their own businesses and to the paths that help make these initiatives sustainable.

Turning a skill into a source of income, however, requires more than just the willingness to get started. Understanding costs, setting prices, planning investments, and identifying opportunities are steps that can determine the course of a small business. For this reason, social projects focused on entrepreneurship can become tools for development and financial independence.

From Student to Supplier

Daniela Pacheco is an entrepreneur in the clothing manufacturing industry. She began by producing uniforms for other companies and ran a small lingerie manufacturing business. After completing the course, she invested in new machinery and began focusing her efforts on her own business, which today produces corporate uniforms and custom T-shirts. “The course made me realize that I could go beyond what I was already doing. I started investing more in my own garment workshop. The course offered financial support and more in-depth consulting for outstanding students, and I was one of those selected. With the money, I bought machines, expanded production, and gradually phased out outsourced work to focus on my business,” she says.

The company grew, opened a store, and later moved into an even larger space. Daniela is already preparing for another move and currently has four employees. This growth has also created opportunities to support other women. A native of a riverside region, she sends pieces to women in her hometown to sell. “If I was able to turn my work into an opportunity for growth, I want other women to have that chance too,” she says.

Her journey recently entered a new chapter: Daniela closed her first order with the Ramacrisna Institute, where she completed her training. The former student now returns to the institution as a supplier.

Crafts as a Fresh Start

Adriana Ferreira’s story also shows how willpower can transform lives. She has been working with crafts for 27 years. After her father’s death, she had to put her craft work on hold and seek work in sewing. Years later, following the loss of her son, she found in crafts once again a way to start over.

Despite her experience, she had trouble setting prices for her pieces and calculating production costs. “I’ve always worked with handicrafts, but I didn’t know how to view my work as a business. Often, I’d make a piece, set a price I thought was fair, and sell it, without really calculating how much I’d spent,” she says.

In the course, she learned to set goals, calculate costs, and price her products. With the knowledge she gained and the financial support, she invested in materials and machinery. “Today I know how to calculate my costs, price my pieces, set my goals, and plan my next steps,” she says.

In addition to strengthening her own work, Adriana began teaching sewing to other women. “I realized that what I learned could not only change my own story but also help others build their own income,” she says.

Stories like these show that entrepreneurship can go beyond simply starting a business. With knowledge and opportunities, skills can be transformed into work, income, and new prospects.