A Bigger Catch
Winner of the Imerys Sustainable Development Challenge 2008 for Community Projects
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day," says the Chinese proverb. "Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Imerys Rio Capim Caulim (IRCC) took that advice literally when it decided to help with the community downstream of its kaolin plant.
Ilha São João, an island downstream from IRCC's kaolin processing plant, is home to a close-knit community of wooded houses. The 10 families there earn a living from fishing in the adjacent Curuperê and Dênde creeks, gathering açaí berries from palm trees and trading manioc flour, mostly for fish. Their way of life had come under threat form the area's fast growing urban sprawl. The area's rapid development is putting pressure on the environment, making it hard for the fishermen to catch enough fish from the creeks. Dwindling resources were pushing the fishermen out into the broad Capim river. Yet they had neither the equipment nor the skills needed to fish in open water.
Raising the bar
In 2004 the unit's management decided to take steps to help its neighbours. The initial idea was to set up a fish farm. However, that didn't work out as Ilha São João lies opposite thousand of homes without a proper sewage system. So IRCC management thought about enabling the fishermen to work safely and efficiently on the Capim.
This meant fishing on a larger scale with bigger, more modern boats. IRCC not only provided the boats, but also arranged training in the skills needed to fish on a commercial scale. Outside consultants were brought for that purpose. As well as fishing skills, the training covered safety procedures, navigation, conservation and entrepreneurship.
This mandatory course is normally organised in Belém, an over 100km drive from Barcarena. To enable the fishermen to attend, IRCC reached a deal with the port authority to hold the classes at the plant. Moreover, as fishermen didn't work on a professional basis before, they also needed authorization. IRCC contacted the port authority (a branch of the Brazilian navy) and obtained the necessary permits. The whole operation was carried out through a community association that was set up and registered as an NGO.
"With their new equipment and knowledge, the fishermen sail further and come home with much bigger catches," says Jacilaine Souza, Social Services Assistant at IRCC. "They generate surplus income as they have enough fish to sell to the local population." The fishing project is already breaking even and is expected to be self-sustaining after 1-2 years.
While the men are out fishing, the island's women keep themselves busy with another IRCC-funded project. The T-shirts they design and make under the exclusive Arte da Ilha brand were unveiled in the local Fashion Week in November 2007.
A Special Relationship with the Community
Imerys RCC has a special relationship with the local community. The Pigments for Paper plant is located in the recently industrialised area around Barcarena (Brazil). For the biggest employer in the neighbourhood that sprang up around the unit when it opened 20 years ago, social projects are key to the long-term future. For example, the region suffers from a shortage of skilled labour, but Imerys RCC employs a higher proportion of local people than other companies in the area because it enjoys a positive image.
