It was from the need for inclusion and female empowerment in the job market and, mainly, in communities that the Women in Color Choir emerged, a project created by AkzoNobel that brings together companies with the common goal of transforming women's stories through professionalization. The sustainability program was created to train vulnerable women as professional painters. After training 14 women in 2022, it is now back with the program's 2nd class. “The word that defines my current moment, since I started the course, is transformation. This project has changed my life in every way.” This is the story of
Luciana Pereira da Silva , 44 years old, one of the 15 graduates of the second class of the Coral Mulheres na Cor, a training program for women in vulnerable situations to qualify them as professional decorative painters. Created by AkzoNobel, through its Coral paint brand, and bringing together several companies in this journey, the initiative held the graduation ceremony for the participants on October 16, which marks the end of the course and the beginning of new possibilities for them. In addition to the graduation ceremony at the Casa AkzoNobel arena, the multinational's administrative headquarters in São Paulo, the participants also celebrated the completion of the course in a painting event held on September 30 in their neighborhood, Rio Bonito, in the South Zone of São Paulo. Promoted by
Movimento Tudo de Cor – a sustainable sociocultural initiative by Tintas Coral, which believes in the power of color and seeks to bring transformation and citizenship to thousands of people, whether in communities or urban spaces throughout Brazil, the event brought together the graduates and dozens of volunteers from the project's partner companies. The location chosen by the participants was the NGO partner of Coral Mulheres na Cor, Aldeias Infantis SOS Rio Bonito. The organization serves people from the Grajaú community and surrounding areas – a very vulnerable area, according to the 2022 São Paulo Inequality Map
. On the occasion, more than 500 liters of paint were used to paint external walls, a music room, benches, doors and tables .
“Painting as a craft can indeed contribute to improving the condition of women in vulnerable situations,
giving them a new profession, but also bringing self-esteem and dignity to all of them . The exchange of experience and knowledge in this program is much more than just professional training. We hope that they can be transformative elements in their community, encouraging other women to see new opportunities,” says Elaine Poço, AkzoNobel’s Director of Research & Development and Sustainability for Latin America. This is a social initiative focused on training, but it is also our contribution to gender equality and female representation in the construction and professional painting sectors,” she concludes.
Kelly Barbosa, 42, a participant in this second group of the project, says she is very happy with this opportunity. “The Women in Color Choir has helped me develop as a mother, as a woman and as a professional. This program will give me the opportunity to re-enter the job market in a professional manner, so that I can provide a better quality of life for my children and my family,” says the Rio Bonito resident.
The project
For fifteen weeks, the women selected for the Women in Color Choir had access to 360º knowledge about painting, totaling more than 220 hours. In addition to the Construction Painter Training Course at SENAI Tatuapé, the project included lectures, discussion groups, mentoring and specializations promoted by partner companies. Another 16 hours were dedicated to developing so-called '
soft skills ', important for entering the job market, and seminars to build their vision of the future. There were approximately 20 hours of training at the Coral Academy, learning about colors and trends, equipment and products, application of effects and technologies. Throughout this period, the apprentices had the support of their godmother Valéria Cristina de Oliveira (known as "Lela OL"). During the course, participants received a stipend, transportation, food, uniform and PPE paid for by the supporting companies. In addition, all graduates received a kit of manual and electrical tools, especially important for those who decide to pursue a professional career as freelancers, with support to create their profiles and join the so-called
Páginas Coloridas , a digital platform that connects consumers who are on the painting journey with quality and trustworthy professionals recommended by Coral.
Ready for the market
Once graduated, the women will have the opportunity to interview with employment partners for possible placement in construction, renovation or painting companies. Of the first group, which had 14 graduates, 12 continue to work in the market as professional painters.
