Innovative program offers hybrid training and entrepreneurship opportunities for residents of favelas and low-income communities, prioritizing women and LGBTQIAPN+ people in vulnerable situations, promoting income generation and social transformation
Created to transform lives through animal care, Profissão Pet (“Pet Profession”, in English) is a training program that opens new paths for residents of favelas and outskirts, with a focus on women and LGBTQIAPN+ individuals in vulnerable conditions. The initiative offers hybrid training, hands-on experience in pet sector companies and access to a platform with content, mentoring and forums.
The project was conceived by Saulo Eduardo (executive production) and Patrick Corrêa (communications and marketing), founders of the Instituto Impacto Criativo (“Creative Impact Institute”, in English), a social organization dedicated to educational innovation and productive inclusion. The organization was born in 2020 as an independent collective, and Profissão Pet had its first edition in 2024.
Job opportunities for vulnerable people
Profissão Pet provides technical and emotional training to residents of favelas and low-income areas to work as pet sitters (in-home pet carers), dog walkers and groomers, paving the way for employment and entrepreneurship in the pet sector.
The idea emerged from active listening within the communities and the creators’ previous experience with projects focused on economic autonomy for people in vulnerable situations.
“We identified a concrete and strategic opportunity for productive inclusion in the pet market”, explains Patrick Corrêa. According to him, studies showed that the Brazilian pet market generated more than R$70 billion in 2024, maintaining an average annual growth rate above 13% in recent years.
Patrick also emphasizes that this is a growing sector with strong social acceptance, low requirements for formal education and broad potential for self-employment and entrepreneurship — ideal conditions for populations historically excluded from the traditional job market.
Adriano Ribeiro explained that Profissão Pet builds deep connections with the communities it serves, working closely with local leaders and community organizations, which helps drive engagement.
The program is mobile and has already been to Duque de Caxias, a municipality in the region of Baixada Fluminense, as well as neighborhoods in the North, West, South and Central zones of Rio de Janeiro and the Região dos Lagos. With each edition, the project adapts to the local context and expands its reach based on territorial demands.
Territorial and social diversity
In its first edition, Profissão Pet received 498 applications. Of these, 390 actively participated in the learning community and 100 completed the training, receiving certification. Among the participants, 67.8% were Black, 83% were unemployed and 55.6% had completed high school. The course lasts about three months.
The impact on participants’ lives goes far beyond numbers. So far, 19% of graduates are already working in the pet sector and 5% have started their own businesses. In addition to income generation, there has also been noticeable emotional growth, increased community engagement and a boost in students’ self-esteem.
According to Paula Nogueira, from the communications and marketing team, the project’s main current challenges are ensuring sustainability and continuity of the training cycles, securing financial support for scholarships, materials and infrastructure for in-person activities and dealing with logistical hurdles in reaching areas with limited infrastructure.
Despite these challenges, the initiative has also seen major achievements. In addition to the 100 graduates, many have started businesses or entered the pet industry. The program has built strategic partnerships and received significant recognition: its complete training program is now binationally certified by Orange Angels and its methodology has been validated as a social technology by the Federal Fluminense University (UFF). The development of an active digital community has further strengthened Profissão Pet’s impact and visibility.
Another highlight for the team is the territorial and social diversity of the participants, which enhances the project’s replicability and transformative potential. Unsurprisingly, organizations from other regions are now interested in bringing Profissão Pet to their communities, and nearly 500 people are already on the waiting list for the next classes.
Currently, the project partners with the Centro de Artes Calouste Gulbenkian, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, where trainings, workshops, and events are held; with the União de Mulheres Pró Melhoramento da Roupa Suja (UMPMRS), in Rocinha, reinforcing ties with local needs; with Banco Acredita and Clube Empreendedor, which provide microcredit, mentoring, and business workshops; and with Centro Universitário Augusto Motta (UNISUAM), which offers legal support and scholarships for technical and undergraduate programs.
To expand its reach and meet growing demand, the creators continue to seek new institutional partners and financial backers.
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Get in touch with the team through the project website or follow their work on Instagram at @institutoimpactocriativo.
