The Power of Solidarity
The Power of Solidarity
15/05/2020 – Brazil
We have many reasons to be proud of when we speak of voluntary actions and how our collaborators joined their forces to help the needy, regardless of the scenario of the circumstances.
At the beginning of the year, we faced together the damages caused by the heavy rains by collecting donations that were essential for the collaborators’ families affected. This time, we are fighting another adversity, the spread of the new coronavirus, by protecting our collaborators, and still, showing solidarity with the communities where we operate.
Recalling the scenario we faced with the heavy rains that affected Minas Gerais, we engaged a great chain of goodness between our collaborators. Thanks to the commitment of everyone, we are proud of having collected over four thousand donation items, which benefited about 1,020 families, including our employees, contractors, and the community, and R$ 27,000, through an online campaign organized by Fundação Sidertube. The value donated was converted into beds, mattresses, stoves, lockers, and other household items for 17 employees of the Vallourec Group companies in Brazil and 39 family members. This was such a help to mitigate the losses of our colleagues in such a hard time and a great reason to be proud of the supportive spirit of our team.
We will always go beyond. Amidst the current pandemic caused by the coronavirus, we seek to listen to the needs of the regions where we operate to assess the help that would be necessary and to work with the service structure to the population and the protection of the health care professionals. We sent tents for sanitation facilities and donated thousands of items such as hand sanitizers, gloves, face masks, face shields, and safety glasses, benefiting about 21 health care institutions in Minas, Rio de Janeiro, and Espírito Santo.
The mayors and health care secretaries were thankful to Vallourec for its concern and social consciousness to the cities where the Company operates.
Bocaiuva mayor Marisa Alves thanked the donations received, which will go to the Dr. Gil Alves city hospital, which provides care for five more cities in the region, besides the Programa Saúde da Família (Family Health Care Program) and the city emergency service. "Many of the supplies we received are in short supply and the city hall is having some issues to buy them. Receiving such support and having Vallourec as a partner is essential at this moment".
For Jeceaba health care secretary Vinícius Gonzaga, these donations are quite essential for the city and the city Hospital Association as well. "These donations will be useful for health care professionals and will provide better and safer services to the population. These actions show the company's true values and concerns", states.
The collaborators were once more invited to contribute and to take part in solidarity actions. By joining our volunteering program, the employees donated food baskets from Lavor to help the needy families. System analyst Luiz Fernando Andrade joined the campaign and bought food baskets in April and May for donation. For him, such actions should be taken into practice, since they enable the employees to help many people in practical ways. “Especially in hard times like these, we need to be more human and look to the people’s needs. Besides helping who needs, knowing that I did my part is very good to me”, said.
Until now, this action benefited about 400 families, totaling 2,000 people. The surrounding communities received personal hygiene and cleaning kits.
How about our volunteers who make about 5,000 homemade masks for donation? Under coordination of the Sidertube Foundation, they've produced 115 packs of masks, containing 50 units each, totaling 2.300 hours of voluntary work. We have to congratulate the employees and families who used their sewing talents and stood out in this action for the greater good.
Industrial technician Alexander Hovadick is an example. He and his wife Silvânia pulled their heads together and made 150 masks. “She sews and I make the finish. This activity has been great, since we spend our time at home and I keep closer to my family. We joined the project with happiness and we felt pleased to dedicate our time to help protect the others!” said Hovadick.
We thank our collaborators and their families for joining us in these battles. The results we reached are because of their strong spirit of solidarity and cooperation!
The benefited institutions and communities are located in the regions of Barreiro, Jeceaba, São Brás do Suaçuí, Entre Rios de Minas, Ouro Branco, Conselheiro Lafaiete, Congonhas, Piedade dos Paraopeba (Brumadinho), João Pinheiro, Bocaiuva, Curvelo, Rio das Ostras (RJ), Macaé (RJ), and Serra (ES).
