Ardagh Group SA will make its third major investment in the program in several years. Ardagh for Education . Ardagh will invest approximately $5 million over a ten-year period in the local communities where its Brazilian facilities are located. After launching a similar program in the U.S. in 2021 and in Germany in 2022, Brazil is the next stage of its Ardagh for Education plan , the corporation’s global social sustainability education initiative.
In Brazil, Ardagh will partner with the Brazilian Social Service for Industry (SESI) to provide STEM education to elementary and high school teachers and students in communities where Ardagh operates throughout Brazil. Working with SESI, these investments in education will support and accelerate the impact of high-quality science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to inspire students’ interest in STEM and equip them with the skills demanded in the 21st century. Over the next 10 years in Brazil, Ardagh-sponsored education programs are estimated to benefit 200,000 elementary and high school students, in addition to providing world-class teacher training to 2,500 teachers in 200 schools in Ardagh’s Brazilian communities.
“Ardagh is a major employer in all the communities in which we operate in the Americas, Europe and Africa. Our team in Brazil consists of approximately 1,000 skilled people at our Brazilian facilities,” said Paul Coulson, president of the Ardagh Group. “Ardagh for Education is at the heart of our social sustainability strategy. We recognize the critical role that education and access to education play in ensuring equal opportunity and building successful and vibrant communities, and we expect to invest $5 million over ten years to support these efforts in Brazil. We are delighted to announce our partnership with SESI as part of this high-impact, multi-year program. Ardagh’s investment will drive quality STEM education in our Brazilian communities that are key to economic development as well as our long-term business.”
SESI is a private, non-profit institution that works closely with the public and private sectors. SESI’s mission is to provide improvements in the quality of life and social welfare in Brazil, particularly for industrial workers and their families. Today, SESI is a Brazilian leader in early childhood and youth education and a pioneer in STEM education and robotics. SESI also maintains an active role in the design and implementation of the country’s educational policies.
“SESI is excited about its participation in the ARDAGH-SESI Educational Project. In addition to its role as one of the largest and most recognized educational networks in Brazil, SESI maintains several partnerships with public and private companies and organizations,” said Rafael Lucchesi, SESI’s Superintendent Director. “With this project, we now have the prospect of providing public school teachers with access to our proven expertise in the fields of educational robotics and science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We thank Ardagh for believing in SESI and investing in the future of our children and youth, who will be the greatest beneficiaries of this important initiative over the next ten years.”
“Our partnership with SESI will help us maximize the effectiveness and impact of this important initiative, which will reach thousands of teachers and students in our local communities where Ardagh employees live and work,” said Sean Cosgrove, global director of education programs for Ardagh Group. “It will also guide engagement and volunteer efforts between Ardagh employees and educational institutions, as well as drive improvements in student skills and ultimately access to STEM career fields.”
