Vale Newsroom

Promoting quality-of-life improvements in the communities with whom it interacts is part of Vale’s basic principles, whether it’s in Brazil or abroad. Understanding cultural diversity is fundamental for the company to establish a respectful and productive rapport, based in an ethic and transparent relationship.

All Vale’s decisions are guided by the dialogue established with all its stakeholders: employees, shareholders, investors, clients, suppliers, public sector, labor unions, NGO´s and civil-society. The company also works together with communities, respecting the unique features and potentialities of each of them.

Vale Foundation

• Vale Foundation has contributed to integrated economic, environmental and social development of the areas in which it operates, strengthening the social capital of communities and respecting local cultural identities.
• Since 1998, the Foundation has developed social projects in partnership with the civic authorities, non-governmental organizations, civil–society entities and private sector in the following fields: education, culture and local economy and voluntary.
• In 2007, Vale’s investment in social activities is estimated in R$ 65 million.

Main Projects

Vale Alfabetizar (Vale Literacy)

• Vale Alfabetizar is the result of the commitment of working towards minimizing illiteracy in the areas where the company operates. The program started in 2003 and covers 32 cities in the States of Espírito Santo, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Sergipe and Pará. Lasting eight months, the program serves Brazilians over the age of 15 who have not yet learned how to read or write.
• The project was established in partnership with NGO Solidarity Literacy, local councils and universities, Not only Vale Alfabetizar teaches how to write and read, but also prepare people to help others to study and promote constant  entrance of new students to the classroom.
• The project is predicted to benefit around 120,000 young people and adults until 2010. In 2006, Vale Alfabetizar benefited 12,362 students in 655 sessions in 32 cities.

 

Education on the Tracks (Educao nos Trilhos)

• Each year, around 400,000 residents of Pará and Maranhão benefit from the project that runs on the Carajás Railway (EFC).
• In 2004 this project was set up on the Vitória – Minas Railway (EFVM) which carries around one million people per year, linking Minas Gerais to Espírito Santo.
• The trains are equipped with TV monitors and video players that publicize educational information. The program talks about themes that influences people’s lives as services and citizenship. Among them, AIDS and other STD prevention, environmental preservation, hygiene, safety and selective waste collection.

 

Escola que Vale (Vale School)

• Vale Foundation and the Educational and Documentation Center for Community Action (Cedac) joined together to create this program that aims to contribute towards the qualification and continuous graduation of primary teaching in municipal schools, helping consequently the level of students learning.
• Escola que Vale offers art workshops, reading and access to the internet as a training tool, evaluation system and methodology for participative pedagogical planning.
• Around 74,000 people from 24 towns in the states of Maranhão, Pará, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo benefited from the program in 2006.

 

PEAS Vale

• The program aims to contribute to the social and personal development of young people and adolescents in the state-run education network, opening up space for dialog, reflection and learning about their rights, particularly related to sexuality and sexual and reproductive health.
• The program runs in cities of Minas Gerais and has Vale Foundation’s support since 2001. From then onwards, the program has trained 1,939 professionals and benefited 44,000 adolescents.

 

Voluntary work

• Created in 2003, the program aims to stimulate the spontaneous mobilization of Vale’s employees, that already used to happen informally before the initiative was established by the company.
• Organized in eight states (Bahia, Espírito Santo, Maranhão, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Rio de Janeiro e Sergipe), the program is structured through Regional Volunteer Committees that operate in 40 Brazilian cities, supporting more than 100 local groups of volunteers.
• One of the program’s instruments is Vale’s Volunteer Gate. It is a virtual system which connects Committees, Action Groups and individual volunteers throughout the country, enabling them to communicate, exchange experiences and receive advice, news and reference material from a distance.