At a Glance
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Impact Areas: Labor Inclusion, Sustainable Income
People Supported:
Women, Low-Income People
Joined NESsT Portfolio:
2021
Overview
Maré de Sabores is a social enterprise that operates in the Maré complex, one of the most populous slum complexes in Brazil and the largest in the city of Rio de Janeiro with approximately 140,000 inhabitants (IBGE, 2010). Mariana Aleixo and Helena Edir founded the social enterprise to help women in the region to build their financial independence. It provides women, especially low-income single mothers, with training, work experience, and job opportunities in the food industry.
To date, Maré de Sabores has trained more than 750 women in gastronomy services, and placed 160 into employment in the industry. Twice a year, the enterprise hosts open calls in the community to recruit students. Prior to enrolling in this training, women from Maré did not have access to their own income. Graduates of the program gain the confidence and technical skills needed to apply to roles in gastronomy, several of whom have opted to start their own small businesses.
Maré de Sabores main business line is offering catering services for events, marriages, and other gatherings in the Rio de Janeiro area. Prior to the pandemic, Maré de Sabores was hired to cater 113 events, creating permanent employment for 18 women and contract-based employment for 44 women.
With the lockdown, the enterprise initiated several new business lines that would keep the women employed and the enterprise running. Maré de Sabores invested in its digital infrastructure on both the supply and demand side by hosting individual mentoring sessions and group discussions online to continue engaging both its gastronomy students and clients. The enterprise was also quick to react to market demand by selling meals directly to households and by serving meals and supporting the operations of “essential organizations” helping underserved communities in need.
Results & Impact
750
women trained in gastronomy services
160
job placements
65,000
meals delivered to homeless people in the Maré complex since lockdown began
“Maré is a wonderful space that gives single and married women a chance to have a profession and achieve independence.”
NESsT Investment
With support from NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, the social enterprise will continue to build its digital infrastructure as it prepares to reach new markets through its ready-to-eat meal deliveries and catering services. While in the portfolio, Maré de Sabores will better define its market segments, integrate software to manage the logistical implications of the delivery business, train the internal team on utilizing it and managing new customers, and develop marketing and advertising campaigns to promote its business and drive higher demand.
In doing so, the enterprise will not only be able to recruit and train more women from Maré, but also position the organization to hire graduates directly.
