EDP, a company that operates in all segments of the Brazilian electricity sector, allocated R$ 250,000 to five projects to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in indigenous communities, making it possible to donate 42 tons of food and personal hygiene kits. The initiatives, aimed at social assistance, food and basic items, were selected in the EDP Solidária - Covid 19 notice, and benefited more than 2,000 indigenous people in the states of Espírito Santo, Mato Grosso, Pará and Rio Grande do Sul.

The funds were transferred through the EDP Institute to the entities responsible for the projects, which submitted a letter of consent from the Fundação Nacional do Índio [National Indian Foundation] (Funai) to receive the funds. In total, EDP has already announced the donation of R$ 10 million in resources destined to fight the coronavirus throughout Brazil.

“The EDP Solidária call for proposals dedicated special attention to indigenous communities. Projects to meet basic needs are essential to maintain these peoples and reduce the risk of contagion by Covid-19 in a group considered highly vulnerable ”, says Luís Carlos Gouveia, director of the EDP Institute.

In total, the EDP Solidária Covid 19 notice allocated more than R$ 2.5 million reais to initiatives aimed at tackling the pandemic in vulnerable communities. The project selection process was attended by an external committee formed by Carlo Pereira, executive director of the Global Pact in Brazil, and Regina Esteves, president and director of the social organization Comunitas, and was audited by EY.

Meet the selected projects:

Mãos limpas, mãos que ajudam [Clean hands, helping hands] - Associação Uchi-Mata Judo (ES)

The project includes 140 families in the 14 indigenous villages of Aracruz with the provision of market baskets, personal hygiene and sanitary kits, as well as booklets with basic explanations about the coronavirus, how to maintain hygiene and ways to avoid contagion. The materials were delivered to each family's home, without crowding and with the necessary security to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Alimento para o Povo Kayabi [Food for the Kayabi People] - Associação Indígena Kawaip – Kayabi (MT)

For three months, 83 families will receive market baskets. Thus, it will be possible to avoid the displacement of indigenous people to nearby urban centers, preventing the virus from reaching the villages. The association had the support of organizations in the acquisition of food and only one indigenous person will transport the baskets to the families, following all safety protocols. Nine villages are included: São Benedito, Remanso do Coelho Ximari, Tucumã, Siqueirinha, Dinossauro, Kawaiwete, Kururuzinho, Minhocoçu and Barro Vermelho.

Segurança alimentar para o Povo Apiaká [Food security for the Apiaká People] -Associação Indígena Apiaka - Sawara do Norte do Mato Grosso (MT)

This food security project distributed market baskets to 94 families who needed to be isolated. The territory in which this project is covered and carried out are the lands of the Apiaka Ethnicity, located on the right bank of the Teles Pires River, and the Communities of Mayrowi, Pontal, Três Marias 3, Três Marias 1 and Burutanga were benefited.

Alimentação para prevenção do nosso povo Mundukuru [Food for the prevention of our Mundukuru people] - Associação Indígena Dace (PA)

The project benefited 142 ethnic Munduruku families with market baskets to prevent them from leaving the village to purchase food in urban centers near villages. The communities included are Teles Pires, Papagaio, Bom futuro, Caroçal, Posto Velho, Vista Alegre, Ariramba, Waremat and Akopat. The association had the support of organizations for the purchase of food, with only one indigenous person transporting these items, correctly following the safety protocols.

Combat and mitigation of COVID-19 in the Mbya Guarani villages of Porto Alegre/RS and metropolitan region - Associação de Estudos e Projetos com Povos Indígenas e Minoritários (RS) (*)

The region has 11 ethnic villages and about 130 families received market baskets, hygiene and cleaning items, in addition to the distribution of drinking water in some villages. Work tools and seeds were also delivered to strengthen actions that generate food and linked to traditional culture in all villages. Thus, in the medium term, communities will be able to obtain their food from their own fields.

About IEDP

Since it was founded in 2009, the Instituto EDP has invested more than R$ 100 million in social cultural projects, which have benefited about 3 million people, in about 400 programs throughout the country. Only in 2019, the initiatives supported by the organization favored 82,000 residents of the communities surrounding the Company's areas of operation. The Instituto EDP is responsible for structuring EDP's investments and social initiatives on fronts related to the valorization of the Portuguese Language, education, local development with income generation, entrepreneurship and volunteering, by means of sports, culture and health.

About EDP in Brazil

With over 20 years of experience, EDP is one of the largest private companies in the electricity sector operating throughout the value chain. The Company, which has over 10,000 direct and outsourced employees, operates in Transmission, Trading and Energy Services and has six hydroelectric generation units and one thermal power station. In Distribution, it serves about 3.5 million customers in São Paulo and Espírito Santo, in addition to being the main shareholder of Celesc, in Santa Catarina. In Brazil, it is a reference in areas such as Innovation, Governance and Sustainability, having been in the B3´s Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE) for 14 consecutive years.

(*) The transfer of funds is subject to sending the missing documentation to the EDP Institute.