Project Hub is a community development initiative to support local entrepreneurship and business innovation among vulnerable young favela residents. Originally created in 2019 to support entrepreneurs from the Santa Marta community in Botafogo, it has now expanded its capacity to include entrepreneurs from other favelas in the southern zone of Rio de Janeiro.
Formalised in 2020 as a non-profit private law association, the initiative is centred on Christian values, to love and support disadvantaged people in communities in the southern zone of Rio de Janeiro, regardless of gender, race, colour or religious affiliation. The project is supported by three local churches, voluntary donations from civil society and private companies.
After four years of success, we started in 2024 a new course model and support format for Project Hub entrepreneurs.
In this new model, utilizing our own methodology, we can expand the project to other communities, reach a larger number of people, and optimize costs, thereby enhancing the project’s sustainability.
Project HUB’s concept and methodology are based on the results of a scoping study that identified a clear need to build hope and aspirations among favela youth for their futures. Our aim is to stimulate a transformative potential in these young people with lasting effects on building stronger and more resilient communities.
The board of directors and supervisory board are made up of individuals with a mix of nationalities and extensive experience in community projects and business management in Brazil and internationally. The operational team is based at 295 Rua São Clemente, the headquarters of our association, which is directly opposite the entrance to the community with secure access. The team includes: a local administrator, resident of the Santa Marta community, who manages communications with the participants and the workspace; a territory ambassador; and the Project Coordinator, who oversees the daily strategy and execution of the project.
NGO with transparency : STATUES – Ordinary General Assembly 2024 – ANNUAL REPORT 2023-2024
Our Objectives
The overall aim of Project Hub is to break the poverty trap, building aspirations in young people for the future and helping to make the community a better place to live.
TO BUILD
CONFIDENCE
to define their own business idea
TO PROMOTE
GROUP DYNAMICS
to encourage mutual support
TO BUILD
NECESSARY SKILLS
to open and consolidate their own business
Project Impact
- To inspire and build aspirations for income and a better life in the 45 young people who have already been through the project and those who are currently there.
- Given the new format, the project aims to provide group and individual guidance to 50 participants every 12 months.
- Provide regular community workshops on entrepreneurial and life skills, open to the community.
- Offering equipped co-working space for students, alumni, and the entire community.
- Building bridges to help fund startups and social businesses in the community.
Vision for the Future
We would like to:
- With additional funding, run simultaneous orientation programmes, increasing the number of beneficiaries.
- Open a programme for young people from other favelas in the region (Morro de Babilônia, Ladeira dos Tabajaras and Morro de Cantagalo, …).
- Fully integrate training and environmental and social impact assessment into the guidance given to Project Hub participants.
- Train at least one individual (an existing entrepreneur from the favela community) to be a community mentor for small business development each project cycle to offer ongoing guidance to participants and other entrepreneurial communities.
Our Partners
