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How we support local communities
Microcredit For Female Entrepreneurs
Sigma Lithium established the largest microcredit program in Brazil, which has targeted female entrepreneurs in the Jequitinhonha Valley region. The program currently has 730 female entrepreneurs enrolled and plans to expand total enrollment to 10,000 over the long-term. Through this program, the Company will encourage sustainable development by providing microcredit loans of R$2,000 per person and mentorship programs.
Zero Drought for Small Holder Farmers
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Today, we are the largest investor in the Jequitinhonha Valley, with more than R$1.2B realized so far
In the longer term, we are committed to strengthening the economic prospect of local communities.
As part of this, we have strong working relationships with the municipalities of Araçuaí and Itinga, along with the people living there.
Community-driven growth yielding tangible outcomes
Water For All
Combating Violence Against Women Program
Bringing Prosperity
Background of the Jequitinhonha Valley
Many people in the Jequitinhonha Valley are vulnerable to hunger and health issues.
To alleviate this problem, we have worked to provide local communities with vital support.
This includes fighting hunger by delivering 7,000 food baskets, with a commitment to deliver an additional 7,000. This initiative helps ~2,400 low-income families per month and could provide as many as 3.6 million meals for local residents in need.
To support local healthcare services, we have donated upwards of 30,000L of disinfectant as well as COVID-19 prevention education booklets.
Our initiatives provide necessary supplies for over 20,000 medical appointments per month. This has helped prevent the spread of COVID-19 throughout local communities, taking some of the pressure off hard-working medical staff.
To support families and enable mothers to re-enter the workforce, we launched a program for the adoption of two daycare centers, one in each of the two local municipalities closest to Grota do Cirilo.
We also supported the local communities where we operate in response to flooding at the end of 2021 as a result of unusually high rainfall.
We distributed over 11,000L of potable water as relief efforts for families who either lost their homes or were displaced, helping ~400 families with partial or no access to water and food during the holiday season.
Driving Development for the Jequitinhonha Valley
A critical project we have partnered with both municipalities on is the launch of an independent agency focused on driving private investment in the region. This is known as the ‘Investment Agency’, and it aims to transform the territory with activities to stimulate development and contribute to diversification in the area.
We have gained support for the Investment Agency from the State of Minas Gerais and its various development bodies. These include the state’s development bank (BDMG), the Secretary of Special Development and Invest Minas – the state’s investment agency.
These will all play a key role in helping us bring greater investment and prosperity to the Jequitinhonha Valley, transforming and improving the lives of local people across
the region.
We are also dedicated to providing employment and training opportunities to our local communities. Through our ‘Homecoming Employment Program (Volta ao Lar)’, we have successfully brought back the qualified workforce that had previously migrated out of our region due to lack of employment opportunities with ~70% of our workforce being comprised of Vale do Jequitinhonha region locals.
Additionally, we have partnered with the Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Campus Janauba and the Federal Institute of Education of Araçuaí to create the first program to prepare mining technicians in our region. This initiative will help foster prosperity in the region while further enhancing our focus on employing the local community at
Grota do Cirilo.
