Chinese (Simplified) 
Chinese (Traditional) 
English 
French 
Alemão 
Italian 
Japanese 
Norwegian 
Spanish 
6 min read
0 comments
Free courses with a scholarship of R$850 are transforming the routines of Venezuelan immigrants in Canoas and demonstrating how technical education can open up new job opportunities and integration in Brazil.
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.
-
The highest bridge, costing $13 billion, is scheduled for completion in 2026 and promises to revolutionize transportation, cut dangerous routes, and boost the entire region's economy.
-
In a country marked by corruption and poverty, politicians bought 40 luxury Maseratis – years later, the vehicles remain parked and rusting after having been used only once.
-
Why doesn't everyone speak the same language?
-
The world's largest stadium in 1950 was Brazilian, surpassing the 183 seats of Hampden Park and becoming the largest stadium in the world at the time, thanks to its massive architecture.
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.
Technical training for rapid job placement
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.
An R$850 scholarship and a viable routine for those starting over
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.
Learning Portuguese accelerates integration
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.
Reception in the classroom and adapted teaching methods
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.
Qualification aligned with regional demand
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.
Reconstruction after the 2024 floods
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.
Paths after the certificate
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.
How to enroll and take a Petrobras course with the Federal Institute
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.
-
-
-
-
-
-
55 people reacted to this.