Programa Empreenda (Entrepreneur Program) brings entrepreneurship to people with disabilities and their families

The Entrepreneur Program, carried out by Grupo Risotolândia in partnership withASID Brasil, consists of classes and mentoring for people with disabilities and their families.

Families who have children or dependents with disabilities, usually a member ends up dedicating themselves exclusively to accompany the people with disabilities (PwD), which makes it difficult to remain in formal work and this is aggravated in the income of families in social vulnerability.

The difficulty of the development of the people with disabilities and his family causes some issues that range from financial, emotional and social problems.

Project Actors

The institution selected to receive the project was Inpoderi, which serves people with intellectual disabilities and their families, in order to work on the enhancement of self-esteem, recognition of the individual and insertion of PwD in the labor market.

Most of the participant Families are part of Inpoderi and have people with disabilities in its structure. All participants live in social vulnerability, thus reinforcing the Program’s importance.

Articulations were made with these actors, as well as with Grupo Risotolândia, ASID’s partner in several projects that aims the impact in people with disabilities lives.

Territory Development

The project took place in Sabará, a peripheral region of the Industrial City of Curitiba (Cidade Industrial de Curitiba, CIC), where Inpoderi is located and most of the families involved in the project live. There is still a huge lack of support to live. Therefore, during the project, work was carried out to stimulate independent business in the region itself, also with a view to local movement. Understanding the importance of territory development and the creation of a network, for a greater impact on the lives of these people.

Activities

The classes were separated into three modules: Good Practices and Reuse of Food, Gastronomy and Entrepreneurship.

The Good Practice and Food Reuse classes were taught by professionals from Risotolândia, addressing topics such as food handling, hygiene, food contamination and avoiding waste to buy, preserve and prepare well.

In the Gastronomy module, the participants had the opportunity to meet the professionals of Mamona Vegana. In a conversation wheel, they discussed difficulties and overcoming the opening of the vegan lunchbox business and prepared a recipe for reusing food. In addition, in one of the classes, people with disabilities worked their autonomy making cheese breads.

In entrepreneurship, the classes were attended by ASID professionals and videos from Aliança Empreendedora (Entrepreneurial Alliance), fostering the will to undertake and helping in the preparation of projects. For more knowledge of the universe of mathematics, people with disabilities attended a class with adapted methodology through the teaching materialMultiplano.

There was also a visit at Badu Designwhich was an example in our Entrepreneurship classes because of its trajectory in the business field. Ariane, founder of Badu, shared about her trajectory in opening her own business, carrying out activities seeking empowerment and reinforcing the importance of creating networks.

At the end, a meeting was held to celebrate results and the conclusion of classes with a graduation that took place in the Sabará community, where the participants received a certificate of participation.

Results

• Class notes: 10
• 7 meetings in total
• 17 participants, from 13 families in social vulnerability
• The satisfaction score was 9.9

Next Steps

1. Mentoring: mentoring took place with entrepreneurship volunteers and alike, who had the knowledge to add to the project. In order to assist in structuring and developing the business, the mentors accompanied the families for 3 months, giving tips, passing on tasks, presenting tools and following the growth of the enterprise in practice.
2. Award: the projects created were evaluated and the project classified as more sustainable received assistance in the initial purchases of inputs and materials needed to continue its business. Participant Joana’s project was chosen to receive this award. Joana aims to sell cakes and breads through artisanal production. 

Conclusion

Through the Entrepreneur Program, the participating families had access to knowledge in cooking and entrepreneurship and were empowered about opening a new business or continuing the venture they already own. Still, many families saw that their children have the ability and autonomy to carry out various activities of daily life.

Highlighted story

Ivete and her son Elizeu, at the beginning of the program, commented that they had no intention in opening a business, just acquiring knowledge and fraternizing with the other participants.

During the project, a desire arose: to start selling hot dogs. Something that Ivete had already done in the past, but was unable to continue. Elizeu, empowered herself during the project, before she was afraid of entering in the labor market because in the past she did not have good experiences, today she works with determination and dedication in the family business.

The mentor who accompanied the family was dedicated and helped very efficiently in the whole process. Through campaigns organized by her, they managed to acquire the hot dog cart and produce some materials for promotion.

The inauguration of Cachorrinho do Elizeu (Elizeu’s little Dog)happened together with the closing of the project, 12/04. In addition to the cart, they also place orders for party snacks.

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