Preparing children for the jobs market

ABB has celebrated the 15th anniversary of a ground-breaking project in Brazil in which hundreds of children from underprivileged neighborhoods have been given the opportunity of a better life.

Under the project – called “Children with a Future Full of Hope” – young people aged 8-15 are brought into ABB’s two main factories on the outskirts of Sao Paulo for a half-day of additional schooling every weekday. Parts of the factories have been converted into classrooms for the students.

The aim is to break the poverty cycle and prepare the children for the jobs market. The results so far have been impressive: The program has already sponsored more than 400 children and is currently supporting another 200. To date, 75 percent of those who have gone through the program have found jobs – a few of them with ABB – while 30 percent have gone on to study at university.

The children are selected in partnership with municipal social workers and receive a wide variety of classes – academic, behavioral and professional education - delivered by partner organizations. The children attend regular public schools for part of the day and spend the remainder of the day on ABB's premises engaged in lessons and recreational activities while their families receive guidance from social workers.
.
Entering the scheme at the age of eight, the children spend five hours a day on every weekday attending classes that would not normally be available to them. These include English, computer skills, theater, classical music and sports. In addition, they learn about preserving the environment and recycling, and receive medical and dental treatment as well as nutritional assistance.

A staff of teachers, doctors, dentists, psychologists and social workers are on hand at the factory “schools” and the children share lunch with ABB employees in the canteens.

During the second phase of the program, the children spend a year on a professional skills course to prepare them for a working life. The third phase focuses on helping to find them apprenticeships.

The costs are relatively low; the benefits are great and long term.