Focusing on insertion in the labor market, the Cultural and Artistic Workshops (OCA) formed young people from Campos do Jordão, Capão Bonito and Santa Isabel, in São Paulo

Much more than expanding opportunities in the labour market, vocational training for young people from peripheral regions represents a safe way to expand social inclusion. In the first edition of the Cultural and Artistic Workshops (OCA) project, 360 students from São Paulo completed three courses focused on the creative economy market in addition to developing socio-emotional skills. The initiative offered free practical and theoretical classes on Fashion Design, Digital Design and 3D Modeling and Digital Culture for young people aged 16 to 21 from the municipalities of Campos do Jordão, Capão Bonito and Santa Isabel, respectively.

Sponsored by the Instituto Neoenergia e Neoenergia Elektro, an energy distributor for the municipalities of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul, and supported by the municipalities of the cities contemplated and by the Cultural Action Program of the Government of the State of São Paulo, the initiative has as main objective to train people in situations of social vulnerability and without any previous experience in the area.

The project directly contributes to the generation of work and income in these locations, since the students' learning stimulates the production of clothing, props and design objects. The courses were held in person in spaces provided by the municipal administrations and had a workload of up to 144 hours.

"My experience was very rich. Young people began to understand fashion as an individual artistic manifestation and culture. I believe that fashion brings a voice to people. The process was rich. We did several experiments from the drawing to the modeling", says Ângela de Andrade, professor at the Sewing and Modeling Laboratory.

This positive perception was also felt by the student Gustavo Cerqueira. He says that participation was important to expand knowledge about a market that has been gaining great visibility: "In addition to being an extra learning, an extra weight for my curriculum, I had a lot of fun. Fashion is something that our generation knows how to handle very well," he said.

The project also ensured that new specialized artisans are able to undertake their own or collective initiatives, expanding their academic and professional perspectives. The Cultural and Artistic Workshops contribute directly to three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN): 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth; 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities; 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production.

According to Renata Chagas, ceo of the Neoenergia Institute, the OCA plays an important role for the creative economy sector in the post-pandemic context and reinforces the need for integration between different entities in the search for sustainable development. " The field of culture has been greatly damaged during the period of health emergency that we have experienced over the last few years and is still undergoing a recovery process. With the Cultural and Artistic Workshops we support the youth interested in the fashion market to seek their first perspectives in the area, from training that stimulates the active participation of students. By offering the courses in joint work with the government and the private sector, the Neoenergia Institute shows the importance of the articulation of the third sector in collaborative networks to generate a positive impact on society through private social investment", she says.