Inclusive Citizenship (2013/ 2014/ 2015)

The project began in August 2013 with meetings for the articulation and the establishment of partnerships with the Senador José Ermírio de Moraes Activity Center (SESI Sorocaba) and the SENAI Ítalo Bologna School, in Itú, together with some non-profit organizations established in the municipality of Sorocaba whose work was focused on people with disabilities.

The promoted debates pointed to the need to provide educational leveling opportunities prior to professional training options for the placement of such target group (people with disabilities) in the labor market.

Thus, the “Inclusive Citizenship” Project was implemented, with three expected phases planned to end in 2015. Within the network of social organizations across the region offering assistance to people with disabilities, three IAHB partner organizations selected a total of 15 individuals to participate in the pilot project.

School leveling classes were taught at the Senador José Ermírio de Moraes Activity Center (SESI Sorocabaunit), within the context of inclusive citizenship, with an academic load of 360 hours covering a range of disciplines, such as: Hygiene and Health, Human Development, General Knowledge, Training for the Labor Market (Professional Ethics and Labor Laws). Professional training classes would be taught at the SENAI Ítalo Bologna School, in Itú, with a total academic load of 800 hours, split in two job qualification options – Administrative Assistant and Stockman –, but ended up being included in the scope of the state project approved by the Industry Federation of the State of São Paulo [FIESP], called “Meu Novo Mundo”.

The goals of the Inclusive Citizenship project were:

  • Disseminate and balance education levels;
  • Provide basic information on hygiene, discipline, documentation, as well as notion of how to handle personal financial;
  • Disseminate professional qualification and expertise to foster labor market inclusion;
  • Promote opportunities by advocating for the hiring of people with disabilities by local companies, in accordance with the Quotas Act;
  • Encourage greater engagement of the families, allowing people with disabilities more autonomy to plan and ponder about personal opportunities; and
  • Offer people with disabilities access to high quality education and, consequently, generate effective social inclusion opportunities.

 

Methodology and process would be applied in 3 phases, namely:

 

1st phase

Alignment, articulation and alliance meetings and partnerships.

 

2nd phase

SESI – Student leveling and alignment according to educational and civic points of view, following basic professional etiquette and educational precepts established based on corporate standards.

 

3rd phase

SENAI – Taking individual strengths and weaknesses into account, students are placed in the SENAI professional courses accordingly.

 

During the course of project, the Industry Federation of the State of São Paulo [FIESP] developed some pilot programs aiming at the inclusion and training of people with disabilities for the labor market. The successful experiences acquired from such initiatives – set up through the partnership among SESI, SENAI and IAHB – led to the inclusion of the “Inclusive Citizenship” project in FIESP’s state program, called “Meu Novo Mundo”.

“Meu Novo Mundo” aims to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities through Citizenship, Sports and Training classes, and bring solutions to companies regarding the Quotas Act hiring requirements.

Learn more on http://www.meunovomundo.org.br/

Some of the “Inclusive Citizenship” project results were: increased self-esteem of people with disabilities, improved relationship of such target group with their families, inclusion of such target group in a high quality school environment, increased awareness of students and professionals, and effective recruitment of all participants as apprentices by three companies in the Sorocaba area.