“I was very glad when I learned that part of what I paid would help an organisation. Helping others should be the intention of every Brazilian!”
Djalma does have reasons to be glad: as well as paying it forward, he will feel the difference directly on his energy bill as the new fridge model is much more economical and has a low electricity consumption guarantee offered by the National Electricity Conservation Programme (Programa Nacional de Conservação de Energia Elétrica – Procel).
Those at the other end are also celebrating. The Maria de Nazaré volunteers took advantage of the donations to reinforce their materials stock and increase sales, ensuring the nursery’s funding with ease.
“We were able to pay the (nursery’s) employees with the money raised through the work of the volunteers in the Doll Workshop, which is supported by Luz Solidária, and it was a miracle in our lives.”
Luz Solidária donations help in the training and formation of young people and adults in Ceará
In the Northeast, Breno’s family is growing, and the fridge needs to be bigger. This would have been another cost in an already expensive moment for the couple, but the solution arrived at the perfect time!
“The programme showed up at a very convenient moment! We had a fridge that was 6, 7 years old and, with the discount offered by Luz Solidária, we managed to buy one that is more efficient, consumes less energy and is bigger, since the family is growing.”
Breno’s purchase was fundamental to water the seed that Antonio Carlos plants at the Pronil Institute. The organisation trains hundreds of low-income young people and adults in Fortaleza and 5% of the discount Breno received went to the Institute.
Promil offers courses such as Electrician, Receptionist, Electronics, IT and more, increasing the breadth of employment opportunities for the region’s inhabitants. Antônio Carlos says the programme’s incentive was essential to enable the training of over 3,000 building and residential electricians.
“This work is relevant and interconnects the professional and the social for free.”
In Rio de Janeiro, the project helped to build a kitchen for sustainable gastronomy classes
Rio de Janeiro is no different! To endure summer in the state, an air conditioner is a required item. Marilene, a resident of Niterói, made a point of bagging hers when she learned about Luz Solidária.
“I decided to purchase an air conditioner because the nights were too hot. Luz Solidária was excellent and helped not just me, but also others.”
Marilene’s donation went to the Hands That Feed project, which teaches gastronomy and food reuse to women. The foodstuffs, or part of them, that would previously have been wasted become creative and delicious dishes.
Ana Cláudia, Hands That Feed co-ordinator, says that the donations received helped to buy the white goods that were missing to build the kitchen, essential for the classes to take place. To enable the lessons, a well-equipped environment was needed.
Elza, a student at the project, claims her guests are tasting and approving the novelties she has been learning in the kitchen. The stalk pie is one of the most-loved dishes, and she is very straightforward with those who ask for the recipe:
“I’m not sharing the recipe! They need to attend the course and learn. It is free. Everything I used to throw away I now reuse.”
Ten years of Luz Solidária
In 2019, the Luz Solidária programme will celebrate 10 years and the figures are impressive! More than 74,000 devices were purchased with a discount in that period. In exchange for a new product, the customer must hand in their old one, which is sent for correct disposal by Enel’s recycling partners.
“In total, there were R$59 million in bonuses, helping 224 social projects.”
Around R$8 million were donated to social institutions, as Odailton explains. The project is an example of creation of shared value, adding value for society and for the company.
