Between June 29 and July 3, Aliança Energia contributed to the realization of the free course Artisanal Worker – Manufacture of Milk Derivatives, in Santa Cruz do Escalvado (MG), a municipality neighboring the Risoleta Neves HPP. The training benefited 12 women from the community and was promoted in partnership with the Union of Rural Producers of Ponte Nova, Senar Minas and the Association of Rural Producers of Santa Cruz do Escalvado (APROSCE), encouraging professional qualification and income generation in the municipality.
The initiative arose from a demand presented by APROSCE, with the support of the company, considering the relevance of agricultural activity for the region. With more than 60% of the population living in rural areas, dairy production represents an important economic activity and is part of the reality of many local families.
The participants had different levels of experience in the activity. While some were already working in the production of milk derivatives and sought to improve their knowledge, others had their first contact with artisanal manufacturing during the training.
With a workload of 40 hours, the course was taught by Moara de Souza, graduated in Dairy Science and Technology. During the five days of training, the participants had access to content that combined personal development and technical training, addressing topics such as self-esteem, health, safety, environment, reasoning and critical vision, as well as important knowledge for the production of dairy products with quality and safety.
The program included topics such as legislation and labeling, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), cleaning and sanitization of environments and equipment, pasteurization techniques, quality control of raw materials, food safety and evaluation of the quality of the products prepared.
In the practical stage, the participants applied the knowledge acquired in the production of different derivatives, such as Minas Frescal cheese, standard Minas cheese, cornrow cheese, mozzarella, yogurt, ricotta and dulce de leche.
At the end of the training, the participants received certificates of completion and participated in a moment of integration to share experiences, perceptions about the course and reflect on the new income opportunities generated from the knowledge acquired.
For Aliança Energia’s Community Relations analyst, Iany Albergaria, who accompanied the initiative, the training demonstrates the potential of actions aimed at the development of communities.
“It was very gratifying to follow this training and see the interest and dedication of the participants throughout the course. They had the opportunity to learn new techniques, share knowledge and realize that artisanal production can open new paths and possibilities for their families and the community.”
For instructor Moara de Souza, the course was an opportunity to show how knowledge can make a difference in the daily lives of those who make a living from milk production.
“The participants already work, in some way, with milk production and took advantage of the opportunity to learn new techniques very well. With this knowledge, they can produce with more quality, diversify products and create income possibilities for their families, valuing an activity that is part of the reality of Santa Cruz do Escalvado.”
The initiative is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 5 – Gender Equality and SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth.
For Aliança Energia, initiatives like this contribute to transforming knowledge into opportunities, valuing local talents, encouraging entrepreneurship and promoting new possibilities for development and income generation for the participants and the community where it operates.
