(7)Casa Imerys Empowering Communities

摘要

Taking into consideration the fact that, the mining industries are part of the society since the occupation of physical space up to workforce, it is important to strengthen the bond with the community through diverse actions that compensate and incentivise its development. The social and economic progress of a community benefits not only the people, but also the industry and the society in general, once the goal is the mutual growth. The more the companies support and make efforts, the more the impact and the results. This is the case of “Casa Imerys”, a social initiative developed by Imerys in the communities of Vila do Conde and Bairro Industrial, located in the city of Barcarena in Pará State - Brazil. Imerys is the world's greatest responsible for the extraction and processing of kaolin. Casa Imerys was inaugurated in January 2012; it was designed to create bonds with the community allowing a higher approximation, uniting efforts and offering programs to boost the local development, offering vocational training for adults, computer courses for teenagers, activities promoting health for the elderly, educational support for the children, and diverse cultural and leisure activities for the public in general. Imerys announced in the end of 2013, the plan to expand the project where the first phase was completed in July 2014 with a reopening of bigger and comfortable facilities, and continued in March 2015 with the opening of a second place. Casa Imerys has more than five thousand histories of efforts and overcoming, in more than six benefited communities. The project not only improves life quality, but also positively reflects the company's image before various stakeholders, contributing for Imerys reputation as an accessible company, socially responsible that invest in the local community and daily reinforces its commitment.