Spirit of Serving: Stories that Reveal the Strength of Grupo Novonor’s Core Value

“We are made of values. The spirit of serving is present in our daily lives, strengthening our bonds and generating a positive impact.” These words come from Nfuidiman Vita Estefâna, Specialized Technician in the People and Organization area at Odebrecht Angola. In August this year, the member, who has been part of Grupo Novonor for 17 years, mobilized alongside colleagues from different areas to support, with words of care and donations of essential goods, a coworker who had been away for more than six months. “The warm welcome he gave us was deeply moving and reminded us that, more than material help, what truly matters are people,” he said.

Nfuidiman in volunteer action with a colleague from Odebrecht Angola

Human appreciation is highly valued at Grupo Novonor. Norberto Odebrecht was a great inspiration and a reference for someone who always believed in people’s potential and in serving others. Moreover, he did everything to turn this belief into a shared mindset among all members. Throughout his career, he developed the Odebrecht Business Technology (TEO), a set of principles and values that formed the ethical and cultural foundation of the Group, now updated and recognized as Our Culture.

Stories like Nfuidiman’s show that Norberto’s initiative bore fruit. In the year when the spirit of serving, a core value of Our Culture, gains even more prominence with the 60th anniversary of the Norberto Odebrecht Foundation (FNO) and its theme “Serving is Our History,” it is clear that this attitude has been embraced by Grupo Novonor members.

Douglas with children supported by the Viva Jr Project

Douglas Lima da Conceição, Programming and Production Control Technician at ICN – Itaguaí Construções Navais, notes that practicing this value naturally appears in everyday actions. “From something more complex like teaching a new Excel formula to something as simple as bringing coffee from the pantry, serving keeps us connected and can not only change our days but also improve our performance,” he says.

This value, however, goes beyond work environments and business interactions: the spirit of serving also guides how Grupo Novonor members relate to society.

Douglas, for example, coordinates the Viva Jr Project, an initiative that welcomes children and adolescents in vulnerable situations in a neighborhood of Itaguaí (RJ). Every Saturday, he gathers with 30 other volunteers to develop recreational activities, offer tutoring, and share meals. “The feeling of doing something for someone without expecting anything in return, except a smile and a life with more hope, is indescribable,” he shares.

Jonas with participants of the course he teaches as a volunteer at the Theater School

This feeling is echoed by Jonas Nogueira, Sustainability Coordinator at FNO. Since discovering the Theater School in Salvador (BA), he was captivated by the artistic and cultural training project focused on Black youth and public school students. Today, he volunteers as a teacher, training Black leaders. “I recharged myself through the experience. We think we’re only going to give, right? But we give and receive. It’s so good for life and for feeling truly useful,” he says.

When Serving Brings Paths Together and Creates Opportunities

In VOCÊ, a volunteer program created in 2022 by Odebrecht Engenharia & Construção and the Norberto Odebrecht Foundation, the spirit of serving takes the form of mentoring. The initiative connects construction company members with students from the Family Homes of Baixo Sul da Bahia, rural schools partnered with the Foundation, for career counseling and life planning.

Jeruza, on the left, and Elaine, on the right, with young mentees from the VOCÊ volunteer program

“I’ve always been curious about the Baixo Sul projects, because of Dr. Norberto’s affection and dedication to them,” says Jeruza Campos de Souza, a nutritionist at the Prosub/EBN Project. By joining VOCÊ, she had the chance to visit the schools and support the journey of one of the teenagers served. “Volunteering made me realize that serving is much more than donating time. It’s about sharing care, hope, and believing in someone’s potential,” she says.

For Elaine Maria da Rocha Matos, Tax Analyst at the construction company, becoming a mentor was a way to give back what she once received. “I come from a humble, migrant family from the Northeast. I know what it’s like to be in need and I’ve been ‘served’ many times. So I understood the duty to replicate these actions because I know they made a difference in my life,” she shares.

A Value That Strengthens Civic Identity

Daniel and his wife with a child welcomed by their family

Serving also drives life choices. For Daniel Villar, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, “volunteer work is an exercise in citizenship.” Daniel and his family are involved in a cause still unknown to many: family fostering. This is a temporary protective measure in which children and adolescents removed from their original families are cared for safely, affectionately, and individually by a volunteer family until they return to their biological family or are placed for adoption.

“We are part of a transformation process. The greatest lesson we learned was practicing unconditional love,” he shared during a live session for Grupo Novonor members. Daniel relates his involvement with the cause to the Foundation’s work with young people from the Family Homes. “I had the opportunity to meet the teenagers who participate in this incredible project, which has a huge impact on communities with the lowest human development rates in Brazil. That’s why, at home, we contribute every year to Tributo ao Futuro,” he says.

Nathalya with teenagers whose future opportunities were expanded thanks to Tributo ao Futuro

Tributo ao Futuro is a Foundation campaign that, for 21 years, has raised funds to educate farmers’ children in the Family Homes, strengthening agricultural productivity and improving living conditions for entire families in Baixo Sul da Bahia.

Nathalya Mendes, HR Analyst at Prosub/EBN, has been a donor since 2018. According to her, contributing to the campaign goes beyond a gesture of solidarity: “it’s investing in a project that generates real results and lasting transformations in our country.”

But Nathalya didn’t settle for just financial support. Her desire to do more led her to join the Future Agents group, volunteers responsible for engaging new donors. “Being a Future Agent is part of a chain of hope. Change begins with opportunities, and each donation can reflect in a fairer and more supportive society,” she concludes, showing how practicing the spirit of serving is a powerful driver of transformation.

The opportunity to donate to Tributo ao Futuro 2025, whose motto is “Serving is Our Root,” runs until December 17. Learn more about the initiative and make your contribution at tributoaofuturo.com.