Local Organization Strengthening Project (FOL, acronym in Portuguese) combined financial investment, training, and culture actions to structure collectives and associations

With the aim of promoting culture, driving local development, and fostering territorial autonomy in the areas undergoing remediation in the Doce River Basin, the Local Organization Strengthening Project (FOL) supported 324 formal and informal associations in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo.  Over the course of four years, the Project served a diverse audience, including cultural collectives, youth groups, associations, artists, recyclable waste collectors, family farmers, artisanal fishermen, and traditional communities.

Launched in 2021 and concluded in 2025, the Project allocated funds ranging from BRL 5,000 to BRL 15,000 per organization and supported management activities, business compliance, and investments in infrastructure, communication, equipment, and processes. The FOL’s closing ceremony took place at an event in Regência, a district of Linhares (ES), and included visits to local cultural venues and a workshop on making the casaca, a musical instrument that symbolizes Espírito Santo’s musical heritage.

In addition to financial support, the organizations gained access to online learning modules and mentoring on strategic topics such as networking, fundraising, project management, education, communication, and third-sector legislation, with input from experts.

“The goal was to strengthen social organizations, collectives, and institutions. To that end, we created the conditions for these organizations to grow stronger in a sustainable way, through concrete tools and technical support. We have fostered a culture of autonomy, networking, and transformation in these communities,” said Andréa Furtado, Planning and Management Specialist at Samarco.

Social Impact

FOL organized dozens of cultural and educational activities throughout Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, with a focus on building community ties. In Caratinga, Bom Jesus do Galho, and Naque, in Minas Gerais, the project offered training in cooperation and well-being, as well as craft workshops, culminating in a cultural exhibition. Meanwhile, in the Minas Gerais municipalities of Ipatinga, Bugre, and Bom Jesus do Galho, a traveling initiative transformed the streets into gathering spaces featuring outdoor movies, music, and a craft product fair.

In Mariana (MG), the program brought together art, music, cuisine, and local entrepreneurship; in Linhares (ES), events sparked discussions on racial issues and celebrated Afro-Brazilian culture.

In Coronel Fabriciano and Ipatinga, workshops on embroidery, project development, and artistic portfolios culminated in an exhibition featuring music and theater. In Resplendor, the project offered lectures on cultural production and fundraising, film screenings, and game workshops.

Carried out in partnership with the consulting firm H&P, the initiative began under the now-defunct Renova Foundation and was included in the New Rio Doce Agreement, for which Samarco has been responsible since late 2024.

General information on the agreement is available at www.samarco.com/reparacao.

Remediation

Since the Fundão dam collapse, one of the key areas of the recovery effort has been the socioeconomic development of the entire affected region, with the purpose of revitalizing the local economy and supporting the development and training of entrepreneurs. In this area, nearly 5,000 people have already benefited from courses, training, and programs such as the Local Organization Strengthening Program (FOL), established in the New Rio Doce Agreement, with investments in excess of BRL 198 million.