#omegavivario - Improving State High Schools

This is the eighth social action undertaken by Omega's VivaRio cooperation -

                                                          SOCIAL ACTION #8

Courtesy of Omega

Improving State High Schools

Before young people move into the job market, the last few years of their learning are critical. This project will equip their schools with the necessary tools.

In Brazil, public high schools are managed by the State Governments. With this arrangement, challenges arise regarding  the guarantee of equal access and quality education. At the same time, more and more employers are demanding high school diplomas, and also highlight  the lack of qualified work-force as an obstacle to fill positions. Viva Rio understands that quality education influences heavily on anyone’s placement within the job market. Therefore, in this Social Action will benefit two High Schools, refurbishing and adapting their study spaces so that the students can learn more efficiently.

“By investing in high school students, we are investing in the future of our workforce"

How OMEGA will help

Benefitting 1300 students every year, the aim with this project is to improve study conditions for students in two secondary schools within the city of Rio de Janeiro. It will provide them with equipment and furniture that will be useful to both their education and their teachers.

The total renovation includes refurbishing of their common areas and purchasing equipment for the installation of a reading room in one of the schools. This includes computers, air-conditioners, new study desks and tables.

Doing Good - #omegavivario Social Action #5

Here's the scoop, straight from Omega -

Courtesy of Omega

Inspiring future journalists

Those in disadvantaged communities have a unique view of the world. This project will help give them a voice, by supporting the new space for the VIVA Favela Community Correspondent course.

Courtesy of Omega

Viva Favela is a citizen journalism project that was born in 2001 with the objective of exposing the world of the favelas and outskirts of the city through a different point of view than traditional media. It specifically stimulates the integration and digital inclusion of those communities. The project offers multimedia workshops that train youth to become community correspondents, and maintains an internet website with content developed by these correspondents and other youth living in vulnerable communities.

Courtesy of Omega

The website www.vivafavela.com.br is a national reference and has received many awards. It comprises of a network of registered users and has dozens of correspondents that feed each area with collaborative content through independent blogs, texts, photos and videos. These are suggested by correspondents and discussed with the editorial staff who turn it into a paid publication.

Courtesy of Omega

How OMEGA will help

Through the structuring of an interactive multimedia space, this project will contribute to the journalism project by promoting events and providing courses on new technologies and media. This includes image editing, photography, and audiovisual production.

Such a physical improvement will activate youth, and at any one time, benefit 60 teens and young adults interested in Citizen Journalism and the production of media content.

Courtesy of Omega

Doing Good - #omegavivario Action #4

This is the fourth initiative from Omega as part of their #omegavivario program -

Creating leaders of the future

Courtesy of Omega

By refurbishing and equipping The Young Apprentice Centre, this project will help to improve youth education, giving them the ideal platform to launch their careers 

Courtesy of Omega

The Young Apprentice Program has a very successful history of placing youth within the job market. The action is based on a federal law stating that between 5% and 15% of every big or medium sized company's workforce or staff should be made up of young workers (14 to 24 years old).

Viva Rio is one of the main providers of the program, from registering students, to overseeing their time during professional service. The selected youth go through a qualification course and receive the support of a multidisciplinary team that works together with their families, schools and companies.

To ensure excellence in the provided service, Viva Rio has developed advanced study materials alongside highly qualified teachers who also provide complementary activities.

Courtesy of Omega

How OMEGA will help

To improve youth education within the Young Apprentice Program, this project will purchase new equipment and furniture that will reform the project´s study room.

This includes adapting an education space and installing new computers, tablets, TVs, tables, air-conditioning, chairs, new study desks, and broadband connection.

Doing Good - OMEGA - #omegavivario

This is OMEGA's  #omegavivario:
SOCIAL ACTION #3

Courtesy of Omega

Continuing the development of young children

This project will again support the development of children by providing equipment for recreational activities and learning.

Doing Good - Omega and the Program for Childhood Stimulus

This is the second of Omega's projects to help benefit the people of the Olympic host city that is being conducted through  -

#OMEGAVIVARIO

Courtesy of Omega

Here's the scoop on Social Action #2 -

Bringing joy to young children

Every child needs space to grow. This project will support their development by providing equipment for recreational activities and learning.

One of the critical factors in early childhood care is strengthening family and community involvement. The aim of this project is exactly that, with the hope that it will promote complete development for every child.

The Program for Childhood Stimulus helps to expand the provision of healthcare in vulnerable communities. The support teams are made up of professionals who have proper technical knowledge, and in this case, they will be integrated within the Family Health teams. That way, we can promote the Complete Development for Early Childhood in line with governmental programs.

This Social Action will benefit over 1000 families in the area of Madre Teresa de Calcutá, in the Ilha do Governador neighborhood, located in the North Zone of the city.

“The kids can have fun while learning. That's what a childhood should be„

Courtesy of Omega

How OMEGA will help

The space linked to the Family Health Program will be fully equipped to allow children to carry out recreational activities and receive a socio-cognitive stimulus that promotes proper development. The space will also be enabled to integrate families to ensure each child has support on every side.

Doing Good - Omega

In fairness, this is news from August.  But as with many things covered by my my "more professional" colleagues, unless champagne and presents are involved it will often go uncovered.  But by now you know that at Tempus Fugit we go out of our way to find this stuff and cover it.

When you get some positive news that is not about celebrities, athletes and lingerie models but rather about DOING GOOD, you should go out of your way to share it.  So well done OMEGA!

We will be sharing the various projects that Omega is backing over the next few days.

So in their own words, here's the main point of the story -

OMEGA marks "ONE YEAR TO GO" by launching #OMEGAVIVARIO – a community countdown to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

With just 12 months to go until the Olympic Games begin in Brazil, OMEGA is marking the official countdown with their support of 12 "Social Action" projects that will strengthen the socioeconomic and educational growth within Rio de Janeiro.

#OMEGAVIVARIO is a worthwhile cause in partnership with Viva Rio - a non-profit organization aimed at promoting a "culture of peace" and social inclusion around the world.

This year, OMEGA's traditional countdown will go beyond timekeeping to reach much further. This is a chance to give back to the host city, and help the people who make Rio such a vibrant and dynamic city.

The Community Countdown will encompass a wide selection of community spaces and education centres, with projects that will help thousands of young people and their families, including support for pregnant women in vulnerable situations. By focusing on this demographic, the overall result will be one of long-term impact. From the earliest stages of a child's life, it will plant the seeds for a better future, and create a legacy that will continue long after the Games have finished.

During the launch, Vice President of Marketing OMEGA, Susanne Strömbom commented, "Our partnership with Viva Rio ensures that many young people in Rio will get the best possible start in life. Together, we can benefit various communities and give them the tools to develop and grow."
As OMEGA knows from its long history in watchmaking, success is a result of many parts. So it's particularly fitting that each project has a real focus on detailed improvements and materials that make up a bigger story. From new computers, down to new school desks, every action will make a valuable difference.

Viva Rio's executive director, Rubem César Fernandes added, "We are thrilled to be working alongside OMEGA for the next 12 months. Our projects always aim to generate social impact on vulnerable communities, and this added awareness and support gives us, and the communities, a valuable boost."

The experience that Viva Rio has within vulnerable communities will go a long way in connecting with the people involved in this project. With OMEGA's added support, everything is set for a rewarding campaign that will delve below the surface of this incredible city and offer building blocks for a new generation.

OMEGA invites users to create their own heart symbol and post it on social media. For every heart posted with the hashtag #OMEGAVIVARIO, OMEGA will donate 16 cents to the Viva Rio charity as an additional pledge.

OMEGA also officially introduced three new “friends” from the world of sailing. Torben Grael is a five-time Olympic medalist and renowned Brazilian sailor, while his daughter Martine Grael and her partner Kahena Kunze are the world ranking leaders of the new Olympic class, the 49erFX.