Social responsibility is an essential part of the DNA of Cowade, a lasting legacy inherited from our founder, Avelino Costa. Together with the Mendes Costa Foundation, we develop meaningful social projects focused on education, inclusion, and community development. By sharing knowledge, creating opportunities, and supporting local growth, we generate positive impact for the common good in every region where we operate.
Through its Corporate Volunteering Program, Cowade encourages employees to volunteer in the regions where the company operates and in social institutions partnered with the Mendes Costa Foundation.
The initiative organizes, supports, and recognizes volunteer actions involving the donation of time, talent, and knowledge by employees for the benefit of society. To strengthen participation, each employee is provided with four hours per month within their work schedule to engage in volunteer activities.
By 2021, more than 2,800 volunteers had been mobilized through 475 actions, benefiting over 70,000 people in the communities where the company operates. This program reflects Cowade’s commitment to citizenship, social development, and creating positive impact beyond business operations.
The Citizen of the Future project is a community development and inclusion initiative that, since 2014, has supported 140 children and teenagers aged 6 to 14 in Visconde do Rio Branco. Participants receive free educational support, including homework assistance, computer skills training, and other pedagogical activities. The program also offers sports such as futsal, chess, and swimming, along with cultural activities including capoeira and dance.
In total, more than 700 children and 3,500 families have benefited directly and indirectly from the project, creating a lasting positive impact in the community.
Through a partnership with Cowade, when participants turn 14, they may be referred to the SENAI Professional Education Program as Young Apprentices. This pathway creates opportunities for continued learning and future employment. By the end of 2024, 100 program graduates had been hired by the company.
