The Bahia plant in Camaçari, Brazil, was honored with the 2006 Top Social award for the plant’s Lyondell at School Project and the project’s impact on schools in the neighboring communities.
The award is sponsored by the Bahian branches of the Brazilian Association of Human Resources, the Brazilian Association of Marketing Directors and Sales, the Brazilian Association of Propaganda Agencies and the Bahia Commercial Association.
The plant’s Lyondell at School project benefits students in six municipal schools near the plant. The program includes workshops in carpentry, berimbau (Brazilian musical instrument) and handicrafts; capoeira (Angolan martial arts) classes, bag factory and lectures lead by Lyondell employees and other community partners.
More than 10,000 students at Marquês de Abrantes (in Vila de Abrantes), Thomaz Camilo (in Areias), Tancredo Neves (in Jauá), Giltônia Pereira de Souza, Professora Lídia Coelho Pinto (both in Arembepe) and Barra do Jacuípe (in Jacuípe) have participated in the Lyondell at School project since its inception in 2000. The project was designed to provide opportunities for children and teens to practice or gain new skills through extracurricular activities; to encourage personal development and self esteem; and to develop environmental, cultural and social awareness.
Other Lyondell at School activities in Brazil:• Open Doors program, which encourages guided tours of the Bahia plant for teachers, students and the community.• Annual writing and drawing contest on topics related to environmental preservation. • Global Care Day, held on International Citizenship Day, during which employees, family members and partners volunteer at a teaching institution at Camaçari Shoreline.