With a focus on entrepreneurship, the project will benefit 90 young people in situations of social vulnerability in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte

After renewing their partnership for another year, Instituto Ramacrisna and BrazilFoundation are now open for applications for a new phase of the Expanding Horizons project, now focusing on entrepreneurship. In this new stage, the project will promote professional and business training for 90 young people, aged between 18 and 29, residents of Igarapé, in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, who have already completed some of the courses previously offered. The training will use the Sebrae methodology and will be carried out on three fronts: Bootcamp course – Entrepreneurship in action, workshop How to be MEI in Practice and Business Modeling consultancy.

The vice president of Instituto Ramacrisna, Solange Bottaro, highlights the importance of renewing the partnership with BrazilFoundation and bets on the success, once again, of the initiative. “More than 600 young people have already taken the professional qualification courses offered at Expanding Horizons. They acquired technical skills and gained more confidence to gain an opportunity in the job market. Now we want to encourage entrepreneurship. Show young people in socially vulnerable situations that having their own business is also a possible path, promoting alternative income generation and support for families”, she observes.

The Expanding Horizons project wants to encourage stories like that of João Paulo Ferreira Lopes. After learning the trade of baker with his father, he decided to undertake and opened his own company. The small business, however, was not doing well. João was discouraged when the opportunity arose to take the professional baker course, offered free of charge by the Expanding Horizons Project. “I only knew the basics. I really wanted to become a professional,” he says.

In the course, João Paulo was able to improve what he already knew, he learned new recipes and skills, which, combined with the knowledge passed on by his father, were implemented and increased the business. “Thanks to the course, today I work as a baker, in my own bakery. I managed to expand the services and things got better”, he is proud.

training entrepreneurs

The Bootcamp course – Entrepreneurship in Action is aimed at those who want to start or redesign their business model, using agile tools and methods applied by the most innovative companies on the market. The workshop How to be MEI in Practice aims to clarify to potential entrepreneurs, with a business idea or with experience of working on their own, the main obligations and benefits of becoming an individual microentrepreneur..

Applications, exclusively for former participants of the Expanding Horizons project, can be made until August 9 for the link.

There will be three classes of 30 students each and classes will be in person, between August and September, in the morning or afternoon (See schedule).

After the training, 15 students will be chosen who demonstrate their entrepreneurial potential, to carry out a Business Modeling Consultancy, receiving the necessary tools to start their business..

Results achieved

The Expanding Horizons project, carried out since 2020 with support from BrazilFoundation and the Municipality of Igarapé, has professionally qualified 670 adolescents and young people aged 15 to 29, in situations of social and personal vulnerability in Igarapé, promoting the insertion of this group into the job market. Free courses have already been offered in the following areas: baker, Basic IT, Sales, Logistics, Auto Mechanics, Welding and Electric/Photovoltaics, digital marketing, among others. Last year, the project also inaugurated a photovoltaic plant at Associação Educativa e Cultural de Igarapé (ASSECIG).

Expanding Horizons

Registration: until August 9th

Modality: face-to-face classes

Requirements: be ex. student of the project, be between 18 and 29 years old, have completed elementary school and be a resident of Igarapé.

Location: Primeiro de Maio Street, 122, Centro – Igarapé (Sala Mineira do Empreendedor)

Class 1: August 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 and 24, September 12 (Morning – 08:00 to 12:00)

Class 2: August 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 and 24, September 19 (Afternoon – 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm)

Class 3: August 29, 30, 31, September 01, 2, 5 and 26 (Afternoon – 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm)