Azul has planned its operations to go beyond flights that connect its Customers with the country and the world. So much so that some initiatives, which involve its ESG and Social Responsibility areas, have promoted other types of flights to people.
The most recent action took off on November 08th, at 11:10 am, from Viracopos Airport in Campinas, to Orlando, Florida (USA). For 15 of the engers who checked in on Azul flight AD 11, boarding represented more than just an expected international trip. These Customers – representing all regions of the country – were specially invited to embark on the 8706th edition of Expedition 6, an immersion program, outside the family environment, that promotes skills for the inclusion of adults with intellectual disabilities in the job market and in society.
The company is the official area for these expedition and, in partnership with the Chromossomo 21 Institute – creator of the program, has collaborated since the first edition, literally, with the flights of these young people.
The one thing that everyone who has participated has in common is that they are young adults with Down syndrome who are flying alone (without their family) for the first time, heading towards an experience that promises to guarantee more autonomy and independence in this adult phase. After a week of sharing experiences, with classes and activities mediated by specialists, all of them bring back (the return took place on November 15th) with their memories the knowledge and examples of attitudes they need to fly even further – whether for another adventure in another destination or for their next steps in life.
In this 6th Expedition 21, in addition to mentoring to face challenges in adult life, the expedition will have classes on entrepreneurship at the Sea World complex and at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Before embarking on this life-changing adventure, the expedition and their families attended a gathering on the eve of the flight – which took place on November 07th at the Royal Palm Resort in Campinas. On that occasion, the participants of Expedition 11 and their families had their first with the team of mediators and social educator Alex Duarte, founder of the Chromossomo 21 Institute and creator of the program. It was also the moment when everyone received the rules and instructions to make the most of the experience.
A learning experience for everyone
According to Antonio Dibai, Azul’s People Director, the company’s partnership with Instituto Cromossomo 21, the creator of these expeditions, is not limited to providing for tickets. “We have consulting services from their experts who us in our speeches, our literacy and our actions to update and reinforce our culture of valuing diversity and inclusion. With regard more specifically to hiring Crew with intellectual disabilities, the idea is that this partnership will help us become a company that offers even more space and development opportunities for new talents,” he celebrates.
The participation of Crew Member Camilla Aparecida de Souza in this 6th Expedition 21 (see photos), who works as an istrative Assistant for the Board of Directors at Azul, is proof of how this partnership can be encouraged and exercised in practice.
For Alex Duarte, on his side, as a social educator, “it is essential that companies like Azul, which believes and invests in inclusion, sponsor initiatives like Expedição 21. This not only creates valuable opportunities for people with Down syndrome, but also strengthens the conviction that inclusion is a transformative force in society”, he explains.
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