Global Communities has driven sustainable development in Brazil since 2014 through programs that focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR), volunteering, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, food security, socioeconomic growth, climate resilience and education.
With a firm belief that sustainable growth is powered by community-led solutions, our programs are designed to promote social inclusion, gender equity and resilience. Our participatory approach engages a network of local partners to strengthen communities, foster sustainable business practices and support financial inclusion by enhancing the productive capacity of people and their communities.
We also provide consulting services to help organizations, institutes and foundations define their social engagement strategies. We work closely with these partners to align their CSR and ESG initiatives with the needs of children and young people, particularly in culture, education and sports. Financed through private social investment and tax incentive laws, our programs bring together communities, companies, volunteers and governments to create long-lasting, sustainable impact.
Supporting Early Childhood Development
The Minha Primeira Infância ("My Early Childhood" in Portuguese) project advances early childhood education and supports educational professionals in public institutions across three Brazilian cities. Sponsored by John Deere and supported by Massey Ferguson, the mission is to foster the development of children aged zero to six through immersive cultural workshops in body expression, the art of play, music education and storytelling. These workshops are designed to stimulate cultural and socio-emotional skills in children. Additionally, the program trains the school community, enhancing their capacity to support continuous learning and development.
Minha Primeira Infância operates in seven public institutions, benefiting more than 1,500 children from zero to six years old annually. In total, 13 cultural professionals deliver more than 5,000 hours of workshops to children and 140 hours of training to 160 education professionals each year. Overall, the project aims to impact around 5,000 people, including children, their families and education professionals, fostering a community of learning and growth.
Elevating Crop Productivity and Fostering Local Development with Innovative Technologies
The Prospera (“Prosper” in Portuguese) program supports family farmers in the northeast of Brazil to overcome daily challenges that threaten their livelihoods and household food security. Operating in five states, the program aims to increase crop productivity, ensure the livelihood of families, foster local development, and promote the production of high-productivity corn through training and technological innovations. These efforts are funded by Corteva Agriscience and Yara International, and supported by Massey Ferguson.
To amplify its impact, Prospera is implementing a digital tool that connects the entire corn value chain in the region. Since 2016, the program has trained more than 14,000 farmers and benefited over 40,000 people across five cities. These benefits come from the adoption of high-yield farming techniques and technologies aimed at socioeconomic development and climate resilience.
Better Living & Working Conditions for Recyclers
Since 2021, Projeto Reciclar ("Recycle Project" in Portuguese) has been dedicated to enhancing the working conditions and income of waste pickers. The project's primary objective is to foster local community development through productive inclusion while contributing to the circular economy.
Projeto Reciclar, funded by John Deere and a network of public and private supporters, empowers waste pickers to work collectively through the Estação Reciclar ("Recycle Station" in Portuguese) Cooperative. The project also facilitates the formation of strategic partnerships to secure funding for the cooperative, thereby promoting the community's socioeconomic development and enabling more efficient solid waste management.
Thanks to the diligent efforts of the waste picker team, there has been a significant increase in the number of commercial, residential and public establishments directing their solid waste to Projeto Reciclar. The ongoing project currently serves approximately 10 condominiums, 58 public and private establishments, and 96 residences.
By the numbers:
- 16 partnerships signed
- 26 certified recyclers
- 1,000+ residents of the neighborhood impacted
- Environmental education trainings: 1,000+ students in seven schools
- 80% of participants are Black women and heads of household
Supporting Communities with Vital Resources
We collaborate with Comerc Energia to implement social initiatives aimed at combating hunger, promoting gender equality, and reducing inequities in the communities surrounding Coromandel and São José de Belmonte. One of the project's key objectives is to ensure access to quality food for 100 families in socially vulnerable situations by providing basic food baskets. Additionally, we conduct social analyses to identify opportunities for sustainable development.
The project offers mentoring services and individualized professional guidance for young people to promote equal opportunities, particularly for girls. Through this partnership, young individuals are invited to meet with Comerc employees to receive training and develop personal and professional growth plans. Furthermore, Comerc trains rural producers in advanced corn cultivation techniques to support their socioeconomic development.
This initiative equips our partners with a comprehensive review for social actions and recommendations that align with community needs, employee interests and government expectations.
115,000
people directly impacted by our work
9,816
volunteers mobilized to act in the communities
78,000
volunteer hours practiced by corporate and community volunteers
18,000
people trained to develop the skillset to positively transform the environment where they live
Recent Programs
Humanitarian Response to Historic Floods in Southern Brazil
In response to the devastating floods in Southern Brazil in April 2024, two initiatives were launched to address the urgent needs of those affected while working toward the same goal of community recovery. We quickly pivoted our existing team’s efforts to collaborate with the AGCO Group, assisting its employees, third parties and dealership network in recovery. Our contingency plan included mapping, registering and systematizing the needs of 300 families, providing logistical support, materials and food to ensure their safe return to their homes.
Simultaneously, we partnered with John Deere to map the needs of flood victims in Rio Grande do Sul. We guided the distribution of donations from John Deere dealers nationwide, ensuring essential aid reached those most impacted. (Closed in 2024)
Developing Volunteer Programs
Over the years, Global Communities has supported corporations in the development of impactful volunteer programs, as exemplified by the corporate volunteer program at Lwart Environmental Solutions, a Brazilian company specializing in waste management and sustainability. This program was crafted to align with employee interests, business strategy and local needs. In partnership with Lwart, we created comprehensive policies, manuals and programs to guide initiatives. Additionally, we conducted a thorough diagnosis for Lwart to support the reformulation of its social strategy and inform the design of the corporate volunteering program. (Closed in 2023)
Encouraging Social Responsibility
In partnership with BP Bunge Bioenergia, one of the largest sugar and ethanol operations in Brazil, we conducted an evaluation of social opportunities in 11 cities where the company operates. The goal was to align BP Bunge's CSR strategies with community needs by mapping 1,000 civil society organizations, surveying 3,450 employees, and conducting 43 in-depth interviews with public managers. These efforts helped the company identify opportunities for social impact and promoted collaboration between the company, communities and the public sector. (Closed in 2020)
A Decade of Positive Change Through Partnership & Volunteerism
From 2014 to 2020, in partnership with the John Deere Brazil Foundation, Global Communities implemented the Sowing Futures program, a shared mission to promote meaningful change in the cities where John Deere operates in Brazil. The program, based on Global Communities’ Participatory Action for Community Enhancement (PACE) methodology, focused on developing leadership skills in youth, strengthening local institutions, and promoting civic engagement through volunteerism and community participation. Sowing Futures also created opportunities for John Deere volunteers to help transform the surrounding communities, particularly those where employees lived, strengthening the ties between the company, its employees and the communities they served.
During the six years of operation in Brazil, Sowing Futures not only strengthened surrounding communities but also collaborated with the John Deere Institute in Brazil through management and volunteer initiatives. In 2018, the program expanded its operations to Argentina, beginning in the city of Granadero Baigorria, and later, in 2020, to Las Rosas.
In 10 years of operation across both countries, the program benefited 121,000 people, supported 153 communities, trained 4,600 individuals and engaged 21,000 young people. Additionally, Sowing Futures served 34 neighborhoods, formed 845 local partnerships, created 11,132 volunteer opportunities and fostered 104,000 hours of volunteering and 223,000 hours of community participation. (Closed in 2020)
Our Work in Brazil
Governance
Strengthening Civil Society, Democracy and Responsive Government
Positive Youth Development
Equipping Young People for Leadership and Success
Economic Opportunity
Advancing Job Training and Market Linkages for Sustainable Livelihoods
Sustainable Development
Standing with Communities as They Shape Their Own Future
Resources
Briefs & Case Studies
Learning Brief: Collaborating, Learning and Adapting the PACE Process on the Sowing Futures Program
Global Communities’ Sowing Futures program, funded by the John Deere Foundation (JDF), applies Global Communities’ Participatory Action for Community Enhancement (PACE) methodology for community development, youth engagement and institutional strengthening in southern Brazil. The program’s first phase, which began in late 2014, was implemented in 10 communities in and around Horizontina, Brazil (the location of…
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