Paraná, March 27, 2017 – Klabin participated today in the inauguration ceremony of yet another phase of the project Volleyball Network (Vôlei em Rede) – Paraná Centers, in Telêmaco Borba, with the presence of multi-gold-medalist volleyball coach and CEO of Instituto Compartilhar, Bernardinho. The program’s main objective is to playfully teach volleyball to children and adolescents from public schools, while teaching essential values for their development. As a result, it seeks to provide a positive experience through sports, encourage healthier and more active habits among these youngsters. Klabin, which has industrial units and forest areas in both cities, is sponsoring the project.

In the region of Campos Gerais, the initiative will have two centers, at the State Public School Wolff Klabin, in Telêmaco Borba, and in the State Public School Altair Mongruel, in Ortigueira, serving around 180 students aged 9-15 starting in April. The volleyball classes will be given by teachers of the state public education system trained in the Compartilhar Methodology for Volleyball Beginners, which focuses on conveying the values of the sport and not just on training athletes. In addition to applying the methodology, the Institute provides all necessary technical material.

“We are very happy to be bring this project to Telêmaco Borba and Ortigueira. Initiatives like this reinforce Klabin’s commitment to the social development of the regions where it operates, consistent with our sustainability policy. Developing an interest for practicing sports from the childhood and adolescence has benefits throughout one’s life, especially when these activities work concepts such as cooperation, respect, responsibility, discipline and autonomy, such as the methodology developed by Bernardinho for this project does,” said Francisco Razzolini, director of Technology and of the Pulp Unit of Klabin.

The inauguration event was attended by the coach and CEO of Instituto Compartilhar, Bernardinho; the Director of Technology and of the Pulp Unit of Klabin, Francisco Razzolini; the state secretary of Education of Paraná, Ana Seres; the head of Primary and Secondary Education of the State Education Department, Cassiano Ogliari; the mayor of Telêmaco Borba, Marcio Artur de Matos; the head of the regional center of Education of Telêmaco Borba, Sueli Aparecida Martins; the principal of the State Public School Wolff [D1] Klabin, in Telêmaco Borba, Irene Bilik; and the principal of the State Public School Altair Mongruel, in Ortigueira, Cirlene da Aparecida dos Santos Vargas Martins; among other government officials. The ceremony was also attended by two former athletes, Ana Maria Volpone and Gisele Miró, ambassadors of the Paraná centers of Instituto Compartilhar.

The Volleyball Network – Paraná Centers project was created in 1997 by coach Bernardinho in partnership with the Paraná State Government through its Departments of Education, Sports and Tourism. The successful initial experience led to the creation of Instituto Compartilhar, which currently benefits 3,700 children and adolescents in the states of Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Norte and São Paulo. Next to Klabin, other partners of the project include Unilever and Sanepar, all through the Federal Sports Incentive Law.