Empodera+: SEIRDH opens selection for scholarships for LGBTQIA+ employability program

The State Secretariat for Racial Equality and Human Rights (SEIRDH) opened, this Monday (23), the registrations for Empodera+ (Program for Decent Work, Education, and Income Generation for LGBTQIA+ People). The initiative is part of the National Strategy for Decent Work, Education, and Income Generation for LGBTQIA+ People, developed through a Technical Cooperation Agreement with the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC).

EMPODERA+ is a public social policy that includes the preparation and occupation of the LGBTQIA+ community in the job market, aiming for the autonomy of the target audience. In Pará, at this stage, vacancies are offered for people in social vulnerability residing in the municipalities corresponding to the Guajará Region (Belém, Ananindeua, Benevides, Marituba, and Santa Bárbara do Pará).

The initiative not only promotes access, retention, and advancement in professional careers for LGBTQIA+ people but also supports the inclusion of these individuals in income-generating activities freely, with guarantees of labor and social security rights, through Solidarity Economy, Cooperativism, and Entrepreneurship, according to the Methodological and Service Guide of the Pilot Project of the Empodera Program.

Scholarships will be granted as follows: 100 scholarships of R$ 200.00 for up to 2 months, for the preparation of the Individual Service Plan (PIA), regardless of the beneficiary's income; 30 scholarships of R$ 1,000.00, after the preparation of the PIA, for 9 months for people with income below 1.5 minimum wage; 50 scholarships of R$ 250.00, after the preparation of the PIA, for 9 months, for people with income above 1.5 minimum wage.

Throughout the execution period, the program will have a technical team composed of a general coordinator, a psychologist, a social worker, an educator, and a job vacancy and partnership facilitator. These professionals will be responsible for supporting the beneficiaries in their journeys within the program.

Registrations

Interested individuals can register virtually or in person at the SEIRDH headquarters (State Secretariat for Racial Equality and Human Rights), located at Rua Arcipreste Manoel Teodoro, nº 1020, until June 27. Interested parties must submit, in person, copies of the documents listed in the announcement and the registration form. Virtually, the registration questionnaire must be filled out and the documents sent through the link provided on the secretary's website.

Who can participate?

Individuals self-declaring as LGBTQIA+ over 18 years old can participate. Registrants cannot have a formal employment relationship, that is, a signed Work Card, but can have informal income. Of the total number of vacancies, at least 50% must be occupied by black individuals, as well as at least 50% of the vacancies must be occupied by trans individuals or travestis.

The following profiles are considered priority for the Pilot Project of the Empodera+ Program:

• Unemployed individuals in social vulnerability who have not completed basic education;
• Unemployed individuals in social vulnerability who have completed basic education and wish to qualify for the job market through vocational or technical courses;
• Unemployed individuals in social vulnerability who have completed basic education and wish to access the job market or support for income generation, without pursuing qualification for the job market through vocational or technical courses;
• Unemployed individuals who have qualifications or professional experience and wish to access the job market or support for income generation;
• Unemployed individuals who have qualifications or professional experience and wish only to access citizenship and human rights training.

Unprecedented program in the testing phase
In its pilot phase, the program is being implemented in only four Brazilian states. According to the secretary of SEIRDH, Edilza Fontes, this achievement is quite significant and positively impacts the lives of the LGBTQIA+ population.

"Successfully implementing Empodera+ in Pará is a great achievement. It means we are on the right path to ensure that the LGBTQIA+ population has access to dignified opportunities with the necessary support. These scholarships encourage a return to studies and entry into the job market. With this program, it will be possible to develop public policies with partner entities to elevate the education and professional qualification of the individuals who will be benefited," says the head.

The facilitator of Empodera+ in Pará, Ariel Carvalho, highlights the importance of the initiative as a seed of transformation for the region. She emphasizes that the program is born as an embryonic public policy, built collaboratively, involving the Federal Government, State Government, and municipalities, based on listening and articulating with social movements and the LGBTI+ community.

“We are talking about expanding real chances of access to the world of work, with training actions, elevating education levels, and 'permanence scholarships' that guarantee minimum conditions for individuals to remain in training processes. We are working at the grassroots level, strengthening trajectories that have historically been interrupted or made invisible. Empodera+ is a collective achievement that points to a fairer future, where everyone has the chance to build a life with dignity and concrete opportunities.”

Gabriela Borja, coordinator of Sexual and Gender Diversity at SEIRDH, emphasizes the direct impact on people's lives. "It is gratifying to see a program like Empodera+ materialize here. It represents a real commitment from our secretariat to the LGBTQIA+ population in accessing employability and income generation. Each registration is a step towards the dignity and autonomy of these individuals," points out Borja.