Petrobras and the Federal Institute offer courses with R$850 scholarships in numerous areas and are key to the lives of Venezuelans who are starting from scratch in Brazil. – CPG Click Petróleo e Gás
Curiosities
Venezuelans who settled in Canoas, in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, found in the free courses of Petrobras Autonomy and Income Program, carried out in the IFRS – Canoas Campus, a gateway to the Brazilian job market.
Opportunities with monthly grant of R$850 have enabled qualification in different areas and increased the chances of formal hiring.
The arrival of immigrants to the municipality continues to grow, according to the city’s Directorate of Diversity, Racial Equality, Indigenous Peoples and Immigrants.
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With just 2,6 hectares and more than 33 residents living in 5 square meters, buildings of up to 14 floors interconnected, the most cramped city in the world became a human labyrinth where the sun never touched the ground until it was completely demolished.
In this scenario, eight Venezuelans enrolled in campus courses represent part of this movement seeking stability, income, and inclusion.
They have diverse backgrounds, but they share concrete challenges: learning Portuguese, adapting to the new culture, and gaining professional footholds in in-demand sectors.
Currently, four foreign students attend the class of Industrial painter, two do Miscellaneous Services Assistant and two others study to become Pipe Insulators.
These are short-term, practical-focused qualifications, structured to accelerate employability.
Teachers observe high engagement in activities.
The teacher Evandro Carlos do Nascimento, who teaches courses in the three classes at IFRS – Canoas Campus, sums up the students’ attitude: “Students want to understand our language, integrate, and learn more about our country. They listen, participate, and seek to learn.”
The testimony reinforces the immigrants’ willingness to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers to achieve financial independence.
Coordinator of the Industrial Painter course, Bruno Diniz note that the commitment was evident from the moment of enrollment.
According to him, even after the floods that hit Rio Grande do Sul in 2024, students maintained their study plan and attendance in classes.
Some still face difficulties with the language, while the majority report being adapted to Brazilian customs, which makes coexistence in the classroom and in the work environment easier.
The program offers BRL 850 stipend for participants, a mechanism that helps cover basic expenses during the training period.
For those who reorganize their lives in another country, financial support reduces dropout rates and allows them to organize their routine between studying, caring for their family, and occasional work activities.
the Venezuelan Raimar Maria Romero Maita, 27 years old, student of Miscellaneous Services Assistant, has been in Brazil for five years.
In her home country, she worked as a supermarket cashier and in a restaurant; in Canoas, she works as a day laborer.
She says the course has been a concrete opportunity to advance: “I like it here; there’s work. It doesn’t save money, but it’s enough to support yourself.”
Paying close attention to her classes, she plans to seek employment after completing her studies and dreams of buying her own home to stop renting with her husband and two children.
In addition to the professional training classes, some students attend the free online course Portuguese Language and Brazilian Culture for Foreigners offered by IFRS.
The initiative complements technical qualifications and reduces obstacles in daily communication and in the work environment.
This is the case of Rosielis Antonella Nazareth Perez Diaz, 20 years old, student of Pipe Insulator.
She arrived in Brazil in 2020 with her mother and brother in search of better prospects.
In Canoas, he completed high school, gained temporary experience in retail, and now wants to enter the technical field: “The course is very interesting. I enjoy learning new things.”
Progressive mastery of the language has increased your confidence for selection processes and interviews.
Integration between Brazilian and foreign colleagues also appears to be a differentiator.
Keily Rosa Briceno Ferrer, 25 years old, from the class of Industrial painter, reports that the classroom environment is welcoming and that the teaching staff adjusts communication to ensure understanding: “It’s been a very good experience. The class is welcoming, and the others don’t isolate their classmates because they’re Venezuelan. The teachers are very patient, speak slowly, ask if you understand, and explain again.”
A resident of Canoas for three years, Keily sees this qualification as a decisive step towards expanding her formal employment opportunities.
According to teachers, active participation in discussions and laboratory practices shortens the time taken to adapt to technical vocabulary.
Meanwhile, assessment activities help identify topics that require reinforcement and, when necessary, encourage additional study of Portuguese, reading manuals and safety regulations.
The courses offered respond to the needs of industrial and service sectors in the metropolitan region.
Industrial painting, pipe insulation e general Services These are roles that, in general, have high turnover and require specific knowledge of safety, materials, techniques and organization.
By preparing workers with a practical basis, training reduces the mismatch between available vacancies and qualified candidates, benefiting companies and students.
Although personal stories vary, the common goal is to accelerate reemployment with a formal contract.
For many, the scholarship provides transportation, food, and material purchases; for others, it means protected time to study after informal workdays.
In both cases, the combination of financial aid and technical training opens up space to plan for the future with greater predictability.
The recent context of floods in 2024, which hit the state hard, especially Canoas, impacted the lives of residents and immigrants.
Even so, reports from the coordinators indicate that foreign students maintained their study routine and reinforced their commitment to qualification.
In courses that require practical experience, such as painting and insulation, regular attendance and discipline count for both academic performance and the impression made on potential employers.
Furthermore, living in a classroom with students from different backgrounds encourages support networks.
Information about vacancies, documentation, and public services circulates more easily when ties are strengthened, and this has contributed to faster integration into the city and the world of work.
Once the training is completed, participants intend to compete for positions in local maintenance, construction and assembly companies.
Some already plan to continue studying, whether to deepen their technical skills, improve their Portuguese and increase their chances in selection processes.
Others plan to combine their new occupation with occasional work until their income stabilizes.
In the short term, the expectation is that training and practical experience will result in first formal hires.
In the medium term, the strategy involves consolidating one’s career, accumulating service time and, when possible, seeking specializations.
In all cases, the IFRS diploma and participation in the Petrobras Autonomy and Income Program appear as valued credentials for those starting over far from home.
Registration for the courses of Petrobras Autonomy and Income Program can be carried out directly in the campuses of the Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (IFRS) participants of the initiative.
Interested parties should follow the notices published on the official IFRS website and check the deadlines, required documents, and participation requirements. Places are free and include monthly grant of R$850 for those selected during the training period.
Journalist graduated in 2017 and working in the field since 2015, with six years of experience in print magazines, stints on broadcast television channels, and over 12 online publications. He specializes in politics, employment, economics, courses, and other topics, and is also the editor of the CPG portal. Professional registration number: 0087134/SP. If you have any questions, want to report an error, or suggest a story on the topics covered on the website, please contact us at alisson.hficher@outlook.com. We do not accept resumes!
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