Inauguration of Camargos square reinforces Cedro Mineração's partnership with the community of Mariana (MG)

The community of Camargos, a district of Mariana (MG), celebrated the inauguration of the Silvania Aparecida de Souza Coelho Square (Vaninha) on Saturday (May 24). The new space, a project carried out by Cedro Mineração and handed over to the Town Hall, was a long-standing demand of the residents.

The event was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Cedro Participações, Lucas Kallas; the company's Legal and Institutional Vice-President, Eduardo Couto; the Community Relations and Institutional Specialist, Marcus Mariani; the Mayor of Mariana, Juliano Duarte (PSB), and Councillor José Sales, as well as Vaninha's family and other residents. The event was also attended by councillors Marcelo Macedo (PSDB), Pedrinho Salete (PSDB), Tikim Mateus (PC do B) and the former mayor of Mariana, federal deputy Duarte Júnior.

 During the ceremony, those present highlighted Cedro Mineração's initiatives to work for the development of the Mariana community. "We are very happy to deliver this square to the population, providing residents with a space to socialize and enjoy leisure activities. This further strengthens the municipality's partnership with Cedro Mineração," said Mayor Juliano Duarte. "We strive to work alongside companies that are socially responsible towards their communities, and Cedro fits this profile perfectly," he added.

To make the construction of the square possible, the municipality expropriated the area and Cedro invested R$1.5 million. Lucas Kallas stressed the importance of open dialog and Cedro's commitment to the municipality. "Mining cannot exist without a good relationship with the community. That's why, today, we operate in Mariana with a commitment to doing good, promoting social actions and actively contributing to local development. We believe that mining needs to be sustainable and go hand in hand with the community and society," he said.

A fitting tribute

One of the biggest enthusiasts for the construction of the square was Vaninha, after whom the place is named. A strong community leader, she died suddenly last February, causing great commotion among the residents. Her restaurant, located in front of the newly opened square, was the venue for many community gatherings and Cedro's meetings with residents. Concern for collective well-being was always at the heart of her demands to the government.

Miriam de Souza, one of his sisters, was moved to hear her name mentioned by so many people during the inauguration. "We feel very honored by this tribute. She always fought hard for Camargos, she was a real mother to the district," she said.

Sergio, her brother, echoed Miriam's words. "There was nothing here before her, her importance was enormous. Vaninha practically changed Camargos. Everything here was with her, the restaurant, the church events, the community celebrations. She always had this desire in her heart to help someone," she said.

Councillor José Sales (PDT), author of the project that named the place, spoke about the reason for the tribute. "Naming the square after her is a more than fair initiative to remember a warrior, a woman very dear to everyone here. She took part in all the meetings and was one of the hardest workers to make this space a reality," he said.

The recognition of the strength of local leaders was also recalled by Cedro's Legal and Institutional Vice-President, Eduardo Couto. "The name that this space bears reinforces its symbolic value even more. Honoring someone like Silvania Aparecida de Souza Coelho, so respected for her dedication to the community, is a way of keeping alive the memory of someone who made a significant contribution to the common good."

Multipurpose space

As well as a leisure space, the site will also be a multi-purpose space that can be used for social, cultural and religious events, since the residents of Camargos are a very devout community.

The Community and Institutional Relations Specialist, Marcus Mariani, highlighted the synergy between bodies and organizations to make this community dream a reality. "We had the support of the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN), the Municipal Cultural Heritage Council (Compat); the Executive Branch, the City Council and, above all, the community, which believed in Cedro's work all along, and in our project for the Square. It's a joy to be able to contribute to our host community. This new space is the result of the efforts of many hands and many people involved in this process," he said.

At the end of the ceremony, Lucas Kallas reinforced the company's commitment to the well-being of residents. "Cedro Mineração has social responsibility in its DNA, valuing collective memory and the socio-economic development of the regions where it operates. This handover is a symbol of that," concluded the businessman.