Connecting young people with their dreams and preparing them for a qualified professional future is one of the development actions taking place at the Chlorum Solutions plant in Igarassu, PE, by providing technical training, theoretical knowledge, and its practical application in the company’s activities. The Young Apprentice Project, carried out in partnership with the NGO Ponto Cidadão, CIEE, and Senai, opens doors for the inclusion of women in various professional fields within the company.
Offering opportunities for young people to develop the skills and competencies necessary for the workforce is part of one of Chlorum Solutions’ most relevant projects. As a company committed to ESG Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), its Igarassu unit in Pernambuco participates in the Young Apprentice project aimed at developing and integrating young people into the job market. The initiative includes 17 women aged 18 to 21 who are being prepared to work in various areas of the company.
The project arose from an analysis of the general public that makes up the Igarassu unit to implement actions in favor of diversity. “By identifying a higher number of men in the workforce, we knew that to foster greater diversity, we needed to work on certain pillars to begin training more women within the chemical industry. The program aimed at training young apprentices was envisioned as the first step to open this path for women, technical course students who will be able to grow and develop professionally alongside the company, nurturing a long-term vision to assume other positions in the future,” says Adelini Gusmão, Director of People and Culture at Chlorum Solutions.
According to Adelini, another source of inspiration came from Chlorum itself, which already operates a plant where practically all the leadership is composed of women who started at the base of the industry. “We have a real example of a unit predominantly led by women who transform, inspire, and truly manage differently in the daily operations of the company, bringing very positive results in terms of productivity, culture, and engagement,” emphasizes the executive.
Outlined in the purpose of including young women and supporting diversity in the workplace, the Young Apprentice project at the Igarassu plant aims primarily to develop these young people and leave a better world for the next generation. “We have a long-term vision, but we are already acting now. We are aware of the difficulties that the job market presents to women who have already graduated, especially regarding opportunities for their first job in such technical areas. In activities related to chemical processes, as is our case, the possibility of entering the job market right after graduation is an even more challenging process. Therefore, taking the lead at this moment allows Chlorum Solutions to build this social impact from the beginning, identifying women who need professional support from a structured and consolidated company that recognizes this type of work brings diversity and allows us to have greater plurality in our daily operations, as well as positively affecting the impact we have on the society in which we are inserted,” highlights Adelini.
This first program began implementation in February 2023 and will last until February 2025. Six of these young women studying at CIEE – Center for Company-School Integration are already contributing in the administrative area within Chlorum. Another 11 are directly linked to the technical program at Senai in Igarassu and are expected to join the company in 2024.
The criteria for these young women to fulfill the roles in each area involves the help of the NGO Ponto Cidadão, which does a differentiated job of attracting young people from the municipality of Igarassu and, through a selective exam, directs them to technical and administrative studies. When selected, these young people receive the salary and benefits from Chlorum even during their studies, preparing them to work in the unit after a period of approximately 1 year and 4 months.
“We are eager to welcome these young individuals to our unit,” emphasizes Rodrigo Duque, General Director of the Igarassu unit. “Chlorum is committed to making the world a better place through its actions and initiatives. Offering opportunities for young people to develop the skills and competencies necessary for the workforce not only reinforces our commitment to sustainable development principles but also promotes a much more sustainable and promising business ecosystem.”
Ellen Pedrosa da Silva, 19 years old, born and residing in Igarassu, is one of the young participants. “I have always enjoyed learning new things, and this opportunity to participate in the Young Apprentice Program through Chlorum Solutions is greatly benefiting my training in the field of electromechanics,” she states.
For Emilly Kaylanne da Silva Cabral, 19 years old, also a resident of Igarassu and a student of Biological Sciences at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco and a technical course in Chemistry at Senai, it’s “an opportunity to grow in a renowned, socially just company that prioritizes safety and the environment. The inclusion of young people in this project not only enhances the industry in terms of innovation and creativity but also provides us, the youth, with more learning, a sense of responsibility, self-confidence, and significant professional growth and training.”
About Chlorum Solutions
Chlorum Solutions offers an alternative for the supply chain of the chlorine and alkali industry. Utilizing a decentralized model of smaller plants located close to or on-site with their clients, the company breaks the paradigm of economies of scale in the chemical industry by focusing on the advantages offered by reducing or eliminating transportation. Chlorum brings innovation to this industry through its strong focus on ESG, particularly by investing in projects that create a positive environmental impact. Chlorum has been carbon-neutral since 2020, offsetting its minimal CO2 emissions. The company operates five chlor-alkali plants in Brazil and Uruguay, with three more under construction.
Source: Diário da Manhã – Pernambuco
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