Driving Citizenship

Performing with social responsibility in all of our activities is a challenge we are proud to overcome everyday. Through the years, we have improved the way we interact with our stakeholders and have accumulated great experience in this matter.

Creating the Social Responsibility Policy, in 2007, was a decisive step Petrobras took, since this issue became a corporate function in our Strategic Plan.

Our goal now is to become an international benchmark in social responsibility in business management, contributing to sustainable development. And we are on the right track, since, for the sixth year in a row we were listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, a reference among investors who seek socially responsible corporations; and our management practices are aligned to the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact, which we have been a signatory of since 2003.

We believe permanent dialogue is fundamentally important in order for us to attain our goals. We seek to reduce risks, avoid negative social impacts, and to generate positive results through our relationship with the communities that neighbor our operations. By knowing the reality that surrounds us, we can ensure social insertion and improve people's quality of life, always with respect for diversity.

The great importance the Company attributes to Social Responsibility translates into investments. And to democratize access to these resources, we created the Petrobras Development and Citizenship Program, which is slated to invest R$1.2 billion by 2012. Projects that contribute to reducing poverty and social inequality in Brazil are chosen via public selections.

These are initiatives that are capable of transforming seemingly tough conditions, such as the Residue Recycling Network, which carries out actions aimed at the social and productive insertion of recyclable material collectors. The project benefits directly nearly 7200 people and 143 collector institutions.

In addition to projects that encourage income generation and work opportunities, we pay special attention to education for professional qualification and to ensure the rights of children and adolescents. By doing so, we do our part as the biggest Brazilian company and contribute to our country's development.

We have a lot of stories to tell. Get to know some of them.

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Samba Workshops Training professionals in the art of Carnival

When Carnival ends, the order is to take everything apart and then reuse and recycle the costumes in the next year's celebrations. After the great Rio de Janeiro "samba school" parades are over, work starts all over again at the sheds. After all, the Carnival industry never stops. With Petrobras' help, young people and adults alike learn the art of reusing materials at professional qualification workshops held at five "samba schools:" Vila Isabel, Beija-Flor, Portela, Salgueiro, and Rocinha. Scenography, float, adornment, costume, and sewing classes are offered. And the order is to customize. In Vila Isabel, the students' work is focused on Carnival, but they are prepared for several areas. Nearly 50% of the students are then hired in the work market. At Rocinha, the workshops have been being offered for two years and serve not only their 60 students, but also reach a universe of 1260 people through the citizenship lecture workshops. The courses last a year and entitle the students to an internship. In order to participate in any workshop, the person must be enrolled in school. Students get financial aid for transportation and meals. This is Petrobras using Carnival as an important agent for social transformation.

Radiotube Citizenship on the radio waves

Creativity, a microphone connected to the computer, and the aspiration to communicate with the world. That is how Radiotube (www.radiotube.org.br), a virtual and democratic space that counts on the participation of volunteers from all over Brazil, works. Supported by Petrobras since 2007, Radiotube is a tool through which anyone who produces radio and is concerned with citizenship can share his or her productions. At the website, web surfers can download and upload audio, texts, interviews, songs and even "radio soap operas" that deal with issues as diverse as unemployment, digital inclusion, and drugs. Radiotube has a network of 732 community, commercial, and educational radio stations. In addition to the virtual experience, the project holds technical workshops on radio equipment and on its language. Nearly 60 young people, aged 16 to 29 years, have already learnt and have had a chance to pass their knowledge on to their piers nationwide. Web surfers are constantly encouraged to opine and showcase their local realities, allowing for the exchange of information. By putting creativity at the service of citizenship, the outcome is a true class in social responsibility.

Nós da Trama (We of the web) Work and quality of life

Job and income generation producing and selling natural fiber-based goods. The Nós da Trama project has been moving the economy of Araruama, in the Rio de Janeiro Lake Region, since 1997. These are people who organize themselves, create work alternatives and are able change not only the direction of their own lives around, but also positively impact the lives of the communities where they live. Skilled artisans make several products that are supplied to the Brazilian market. With Petrobras' support, the cooperative holds workshops, recycles and processes fibers and natural straw, weaves, manufactures cardboard articles and makes pieces and accessories to be sold. Coconut, banana, bamboo and "taboa" water plant fibers are the main raw materials that are easily found in the region. As a result, ecologically correct products that are sold to fashion griffes, restaurants and major stores. The project also has a pedagogic center which teaches weaver loom techniques, from the most rudimentary to the most sophisticated. This is an opportunity to insert people in the work market by means of an activity that not only generates income, but also gives participants a great sense of pride.