The Women's Secretariat holds the inaugural class for the training courses of the 'Women of Rio' program.

The initiative offers more than 6,8 places in free courses to promote financial autonomy, professional qualification and opportunities for women in Rio de Janeiro - Photo: Iago Campos/Rio de Janeiro City Hall

The Deputy Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Cavaliere, and the Secretary of Policies for Women and Care, Joyce Trindade, held the inaugural class of the training courses for the Women of Rio 2026 program this Saturday (March 7th). The event took place at the Isabel Salgado Olympic Educational Gymnasium, in Barra Olímpica. The classes, offered in the SPM-Rio's welcoming and training spaces, prepare students in areas such as technology, beauty, care, and languages, among others.

"Our role is small, but at the same time, it's very important. It's about enabling women to be whatever they want to be. We've created more 'Casas da Mulher Carioca' (Women's Houses of Rio): we opened a new house in Campo Grande, one in Coelho Neto, and another in Realengo; we've made progress with the 'Cartão Move Mulher' (Move Woman Card), the 'Ronda Maria da Penha' (Maria da Penha Patrol), and we've linked women's care with the 'Cegonha Carioca' (Rio Stork) program at the Health Department so that every mother receives prenatal care in the municipal public health network. All of this that we do is to minimize or lessen the absurd difference that still exists between men and women in our society," said Deputy Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere.

In total, more than 6.800 positions were opened. According to the Secretary of Policies for Women, Joyce Trindade, providing access to training allows for the construction of a more just society.

"When we transform a woman's life, we transform generations. We want opportunities to be entrepreneurs. We want the chance to bring quality, food, and education to our homes for our children. Our mission is to ensure that a diploma is in hand and that a work permit is also signed," said the secretary.

More than 360 women trained.

The Casas da Mulher Carioca (Women's Houses of Rio de Janeiro) are spaces for promoting rights and combating violence against women. In addition to training courses and workshops, they offer legal and psychological guidance, and referrals to social services. The network also includes Salas da Mulher Cidadã (Citizen Women's Rooms), which expand women's access to training, support, and opportunities in different areas of the city.

Since 2021, more than 360 women have been trained, strengthening female autonomy and expanding income-generating opportunities in the municipality.

One of them is Roselaine Gomes, who trained at Casa da Mulher Carioca Dinah Coutinho, in Realengo, in 2023, and is currently an entrepreneur who conducts workshops sharing her learning with other students at the Campo Grande and Realengo centers.

— My first course was in mobile photography for entrepreneurship, because I've always loved photography. Then the second was in graphic design, and the third was in jewelry making. When I took the jewelry making course, I really found myself in that world, and that's when I became an entrepreneur and started using all three of those courses I took. With photography, I started photographing my products; with the graphic design course, I created my brand and logo, and I started developing my products in the jewelry business as well.

Employ her

The Emprega Elas platform functions as a talent bank for women who have completed training courses offered by the Secretariat for Women's Policies and Care, allowing them to compete for job openings and thus promote their autonomy. Focused on areas such as technology, caregiving, aesthetics, cooking, and administration, the program encourages the inclusion of women in the job market.

Resumes registered on the platform are made available to partner companies containing only the candidates' professional information, without exposing sensitive information about them.

One of the partner companies is the Redentor Group, which, along with others, received a plaque recognizing its partnership with the program and its contribution to the employability of women in vulnerable situations.

"It's very important that, in a world that is very sexist, we bring this opportunity to women, so that they can have more opportunities in the job market and the same rights as men," said Karina Damis, representative of the Redentor Group.