From music to community: The Town and the impacts of citizen and corporate social participation in a Haitian slum.
Abstract
The Town adopts sustainability as a strategy and aligns itself with the SDGs, seeking a positive social impact. The event supports the Favela 3D project in Favela do Haiti, which adopts a systemic approach focused on Social Development, Income Generation, Urbanism, and Housing, aiming to break the cycle of poverty and impacting around 290 families, with the participation of residents ensured by the Social Participation Program. In this context, research investigates the citizen social participation of Favela do Haiti residents and the corporate social participation of the festival's sponsoring companies in the Favela 3D project (Digital, Dignified, and Developed), in partnership with the NGO Gerando Falcões, Instituto Vozes da Periferia, Volkswagen, Gerdau, the city hall, and the São Paulo state government. The qualitative study was based on documentary research and analysis of interviews available on social media with key stakeholders, including a representative of the Instituto Vozes das Periferias, community leaders, residents, and the Volkswagen Director of Sustainability. The interviews reveal that the project is transforming the local reality, offering dignity and access to opportunities. Community leaders proved to be crucial for resident engagement, and residents reported visible improvements in infrastructure, such as the renovation of the square and the emergence of initiatives like the community garden, which generated jobs. Volkswagen's involvement exemplifies a commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, which goes beyond financial donation, engaging employees in community activities and offering training for young people. However, the article raises critical reflections, questioning whether the actions are genuinely participatory and horizontal or if there is a prevalence of corporate interests over community ones. The project demonstrates the potential for collaboration between the private sector and civil society for sustainable development and social inclusion, and the contribution highlights the need to evaluate the authenticity and real impact of CSR initiatives and the complex dynamic of the prevalence of corporate interests.
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