The Araçá Cultural Center, a social project serving over 70 children and young people in São Mateus, northern Espírito Santo, will gain a Green Room, a space dedicated to promoting environmental education, fostering natural resource conservation, and critical discussion on the topic. The room will be implemented through a partnership with Suzano and is expected to be inaugurated by September.
According to Marilena Cordeiro Fernandes de Jesus, biologist and president of Araçá, the project envisions a 30-square-meter room, featuring a library with an environmental collection, as well as an area for workshops, lectures, and meetings. "Environmental education is one of the pillars of Araçá's work, and the construction of this space has been a long-held wish for the institution. We didn't have the resources for the project, but Suzano embraced the idea with great dedication, understanding the importance of our work in environmental awareness and building a sustainable future for future generations," Marilena emphasizes.
The room will be built within the entity's Agroforestry System, a green area of approximately 2,380 square meters, which combines agricultural crops with native trees, simulating the biodiversity of a natural forest. "The building will have few walls, allowing for contemplation of nature and the animals that visit our agroforest, such as the White-faced Marmoset and various bird species," says Marilena.
For over three decades, the Araçá Cultural Center has promoted socio-educational activities during after-school hours, in addition to providing professional qualification opportunities and access to technical and higher education through scholarships and institutional partnerships. The recognition for the work developed can be seen in the awards and certifications achieved, including the "Ponto de Leitura – Machado de Assis Edition" and "Pontinho de Cultura" awards, granted by the Ministry of Culture in 2008, as well as the Cultura Viva Semifinalist Certificate, promoted by the Ministry of Culture and the Center for Scientific Research and Study in 2010.
Transforming Spaces
Araçá's Green Room is part of the "Transforming Spaces" project, a structured initiative developed by Suzano's Social Relations department, focused on strengthening access to social services in the northern Espírito Santo territories where the company operates. In this way, the project contributes to societal development, focusing on improving access to education, equal rights, and reducing social inequalities.
The project's proposal is to promote the revitalization and structuring of spaces in partner institutions, always linking the investment to the expansion and qualification of the services offered to the community.
The initiative has already delivered two other spaces: the Espaço Crescer (Grow Space), at the Vida de Montanha Association, which focuses on recreation and after-school activities, directly benefiting over 200 children; and the Espaço Viver (Live Space), at the Vem Viver Pestalozzi Association of Pedro Canário, aimed at the cognitive, emotional, and motor development of neurodiverse individuals.
"With these deliveries, we reinforce our commitment to local social development, expanding opportunities and contributing to more suitable, inclusive environments prepared to serve diverse audiences," adds Gabriela Nico, Suzano's Social Relations analyst in northern Espírito Santo.