Santos Brasil and Guarujá municipal government sign agreement to implement Partners of Education project

20/07/2011

Santos Brasil, which operatesthe concession for the container handling terminal on the left bank of the Port of Santos, has signed a partnership agreement with the Guarujá municipal government with the aim of propagating the Partners of Educationprogram. The signing took place at the Paço Municipal, in the presence of Guarujá's Mayor, Maria Antonieta de Brito, and Secretary of Education, Priscilla Ribeiro, as well as the head of Tecon Santos, Washington Flores, and Santos Brasil's Communication and Social ResponsibilityManager, Raquel Ogando.

The Partners of Educationinitiative seeks to increase the quality of education in public schools by providing continuing education for teachers, donatingteaching materials and improving facilities in selected institutions."To improve teacher's skills, promote values, and invest in infrastructure are essential steps for any company that thinks in the long term.We are extremelypleased with our partnership, and with the benefits to the Tecon Santos community," said Washington Flores.

The first school to take part in the project was Professora Lúcia Flora dos Santos, in Vicente de Carvalho (Guarujá).Last month, the beginning of the program's activities was marked by an event where volunteers from Santos Brasil and parents of the students got together to paint the school walls.The aim of the partnership is to improve the school's management and infrastructure, as well as the skills of its staff, and foster its integration with the community.

According to Raquel Ogando, the goal of Santos Brasil goes beyond supporting the school."We are spreading the idea because we believe in the project and its use as an example by other companies in the area.Our social responsibility initiatives focuson creating positive impacts in the cities where our facilities are located.For this purpose, nothing is more effectivethan investing in education."

"Thanks to this partnership with Santos Brasil, the other port companies are eying our city and our education program.We believe this initiative will ensure the appreciation that our port and our municipality deserve," added Maria Antonieta de Brito, Guarujá's Mayor.

Santos Brasil develops and supports projects that contribute to the education of children and teenagers in its neighboring communities.The Partners of Educationassociation is a not-for-profit organization that has promoted and monitored partnerships between companies and public schools for over 15 years.The program's goal is to ensure the efficient use of resources invested by the private sector to improve the quality of education in public schools.The program currently assists over 90 schools and approximately 90,000 children.