Third Edition of the VOCÊ Volunteer Program Concludes in Baixo Sul, Bahia

Created in 2022, VOCÊ aims to bring Odebrecht members closer to students from rural schools that are part of FNO’s social program, through mentoring focused on professional guidance and the development of life and career plans.

After five months of virtual meetings, this edition’s culmination provided the first in-person encounter between mentors and mentees—a long-awaited moment that strengthened bonds and gave deeper meaning to the journey experienced throughout the mentoring process.

“It was enriching to meet my mentee, understand the context in which they live, and see firsthand everything they have built through the education they receive. I am even more convinced that education transforms people, communities, and futures,” said Vanessa Bonin Ganzala, Controllership Analyst at Odebrecht.

During the visit, volunteers had the opportunity to explore productive structures that are part of the schools’ pedagogical routine, such as meliponiculture, hydroponics, cocoa cultivation, and the chocolate factory. These experiences were essential to understanding how theory and practice connect in the training of the young people they supported over the past months.

“It was a meeting of generations, a reaffirmation of our purpose to transform realities through work, solidarity, and love for what we do. Among conversations and curious glances, a certainty was born: each meeting was a true exchange of knowledge, stories, and affection,” highlighted Ana Jaqueline Ferraz, from FNO’s Partnerships area.

The program’s impact also resonated with the students’ sensitivity. A poem written and recited by Alessandra Rocha, a student at the Rural Family Home of Presidente Tancredo Neves (CFR-PTN), captured the strength of this exchange:

“Mentors, guides, beacons of kindness, planting in us dreams and willpower. Each word we exchange is a step, each piece of advice a hug; and in this beautiful and sincere exchange, life renews itself swiftly and completely.”

A Special Edition
With 55 mentor-mentee pairs, the third edition of VOCÊ was the largest ever since the program’s creation. This milestone also aligns with the celebrations of the Norberto Odebrecht Foundation’s 60th anniversary, under the motto “Serving is our history.”

For Fernando Carneiro, an Odebrecht member for 17 years and Administrative and Financial Manager on the Guaratuba Bridge project in Paraná, the program represents more than a social action: it is a living exercise of Our Culture’s values, such as the spirit of service. “VOCÊ is completely aligned with our way of being. It’s an experience that will stay in my memory, increasing my pride and sense of belonging to the Novonor Group,” he said.

Marcelo Piller, responsible for Operations Support at Odebrecht, reinforces that the experience strengthens members’ motivation. “Being closer to young people in the Family Homes is living the dream and legacy of our founder, Norberto Odebrecht. Volunteering is another bridge that connects us to this presence, representing the past while shaping the future of our company,” he concluded.