Women entrepreneurs from Lavras, Perdões, Ribeirão Vermelho and Ijaci can now apply for the 7th edition of the Women of Our Neighborhood program, an ENGIE Brasil initiative that has, for the third consecutive year, the partnership of Aliança Energia. The launch of the public notice was held on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 20, during a live stream that marked the official opening of registration for the program.
With the theme “Talents that transform communities from north to south of Brazil”, the 2026 edition seeks to strengthen businesses led by women, promoting income generation, financial autonomy and social development in the communities where Aliança Energia, ENGIE and other of their partners operate. And as a way to expand inclusion and reinforce the commitment to racial equity, at least 50% of the awarded proposals will be aimed at black women.
In the region of the Funil Hydroelectric Power Plant, operated by Aliança Energia in the south of Minas Gerais, the selected projects will receive awards ranging from R$ 10 thousand, in the individual category, to R$ 20 thousand, for collective initiatives or associations led by women, in addition to training focused on entrepreneurial management.
According to the coordinator of Relationship and Social Innovation at Aliança Energia, Joseane Viola, there are numerous challenges faced daily by women who seek to become entrepreneurs, especially in access to credit, training and the consumer market.
“I see these challenges, but I also see many opportunities and the Women of Our Neighborhood program comes to boost these women, which is strongly aligned with our purpose: ‘Energies that Drive Lives'”, she said, reinforcing that the transformative potential of women paves the way for new opportunities.
When announcing the new edition, ENGIE Brasil’s Sustainability Director, Thaís Soares, highlighted the trajectory and scope of the initiative.
“Reaching the seventh edition of Women of Our Neighborhood demonstrates the strength of an initiative built in partnership and with purpose. By supporting women entrepreneurs, we are contributing to income generation, financial autonomy and the development of the communities where we operate. Each selected project represents a story of transformation that gains real conditions to grow and expand its impact”, she commented.
The Social Responsibility manager at ENGIE Brasil, Luciane Pedro, stressed that the benefits go far beyond the financial incentive offered to the participants.
“The program goes far beyond the financial award. When an entrepreneur prospers, the benefits extend to her family, her community and the entire local economy. The results achieved by the entrepreneurs show that investing in women is investing in building more resilient communities”, she said.
Opportunity to overcome challenges
Also according to Joseane, many women need to reconcile the management of the business with family responsibilities, such as taking care of children and the house, which reduces the time available to invest in their ventures. She believes that the program creates a connection between companies and communities through female protagonism. “Each woman has her own experience, her skills and her ideas, and has enormous power to transform her own reality and the community in which she lives,” she said. “Sometimes, women need this little seed and this support to discover their own strength, regain self-esteem and realize that they can write a new story. So, fill yourself with courage and sign up,” she encouraged.
How to participate
In the Funil HPP region, the program will serve women with fixed residence in the municipalities of Lavras, Perdões, Ribeirão Vermelho and Ijaci. Registration for the 7th edition of Women of Our Neighborhood is open between October 20 and November 6 and must be made through the www.engie.com.br/mulheres-do-nosso-bairro website. The result of the selection will be announced in December.
In addition to the award notice, the program maintains other axes of action throughout the year, including free courses, awareness actions to combat domestic violence and initiatives aimed at promoting the physical and mental health of the participants.
More than supporting businesses, the initiative seeks to strengthen trajectories, expand opportunities and stimulate female protagonism in communities. A proposal that, with each edition, transforms investment in development and talent into new possibilities for the future.
