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Embrace a School: Rio City Hall launches partnership program and obtains donation of R$ 2,4 million
Published on 13/05/2021 - 17:16 | Updated on 13/05/2021 - 17:35
The goal is to seek external investment to make improvements to municipal schools - Beth Santos/City Hall Mayor Eduardo Paes and Municipal Secretary of Education Renan Ferreirinha launched the Embrace a School project at the City Palace on Thursday (13/05). The new program by the Municipal Department of Education (SME) allows civil society and the private sector to support schools in three areas: donation of supplies, infrastructure improvements and connectivity. A key partner in the program, Ternium Brasil, one of the largest steel companies in Latin America, is donating R$2,4 million to restore a municipal school in Rio's West Zone.
In his speech, Paes said that this is a great opportunity to create a culture of private initiative investing in public facilities:
– We always see public facilities as state-owned. The school belongs to the city government, the square belongs to the city government, the park belongs to the city government. No, they do not belong to the city government. They are public facilities that belong to all of us. It is obvious that the city government has a constitutional duty to collect taxes to maintain, provide infrastructure and provide services to its facilities. But this dimension must never be forgotten.
The program already has other partners and supporters to enhance its actions. A major new development is the participation of renowned third sector institutions, such as the Instituto da Criança, which will raise funds to support municipal schools in Rio.
Abrace uma Escola is a channel to bring educational units closer to individuals and companies that want to collaborate with the improvement of the network. Interested parties can help with infrastructure works, connectivity actions or supplies. Currently, 1.309 units (85% of the network) have already resumed in-person classes.
For the Secretary of Education, open schools create a network of protection and socio-emotional support for children and their families. He explains that anyone can support the project based on Decree 30.781/2009.
– Open schools are synonymous with learning, food security and socio-emotional support for our students. It allows those responsible to work and reduces the immense inequality in which we live. The Embrace a School Program is yet another initiative in favor of improving the most important public facilities that exist: our schools – explained Renan Ferreirinha, adding: – If we want a better society, this starts with schools. Embracing a School is a social issue, a matter of responsibility and will provide a better future for Rio.
In relation to infrastructure, the most common problems found in the units mentioned are the need for repairs to water and electrical networks, roof repairs and fixing leaks.
Those interested in supporting the Abrace uma Escola project will have two ways to participate: by directly executing the work or by donating equipment/supplies directly to the school or to partner organizations, which receive the material and perform the service.
Among the partner organizations committed to the Embrace a School project are the Children's Institute; Education Partners RJ; EducAção Rio, Junior Achievement Rio de Janeiro and the Apontar Institute.
Ternium Brasil's Social Development Manager, Fernanda Candeias, stated that the company is happy with the announcement of the investment in the Adalgisa Nery School, in Santa Cruz, where its headquarters are located, because it believes in the transformation of society through education.
– During this pandemic, education is in need of help. Therefore, I would like to emphasize the importance of investing in education and creating a better environment for children to return to school. This help is also necessary because it improves the learning of these students, who become more motivated.
The director of the organization Parceiros da Educação RJ, Paula Vianna, classified the initiative as excellent:
– We currently support 24 municipal schools in Rio in terms of pedagogy and management. The idea is to attract infrastructure projects for these schools. When you support a school, you always want it to be the best.
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