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Source: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems announcement
ELYRIA, Ohio – Up to 80 women in the Acuña, Mexico, area have been or will be learning a new skill set that can be used as the foundation for starting their own business in the fields of culinary arts or image design techniques/cosmetology. And some of them already have.
It’s been possible thanks to a dual-track vocational training and empowerment course recently offered by Instituto de Capacitación para el Trabajo del Estado de Coahuila (ICATEC), a local training institute, and funded by a $35,000 grant from Knorr-Bremse Global Care North America (KBGCNA), the philanthropic arm of Munich, Germany-based Knorr-Bremse.
Knorr-Bremse, the parent company of Bendix Commercial Vehicle a significant, more-than 30-year employer in Acuña, and operates a major manufacturing complex there.
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KBGCNA, in partnership with its representatives at Bendix Acuña, funded the program in support of its larger mission to contribute to the education and well-being of underserved populations in its service areas.
Opening the Door for Opportunities
Identifying the need, ICATEC wanted to increase access for local women to the skills, training, experience, and confidence that would empower them to be more self-sufficient. With a proposal in hand, they solicited support from KBGCNA to create educational programming in two focus areas: culinary arts and cosmetology.
Bendix also contributed to the effort, supplying financial support through the local Bendix Foundation and oversight of the project through a designated employee project champion.
The effort was a success, as earlier this summer, the first cohort of 40 women graduated from the inaugural session, having specialized in one of the two vocational tracks offered. And currently, ICATEC is gearing up for a second cohort of 40 women to begin the training courses during the fall.
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“Knorr-Bremse Global Care North America and Bendix are proud to support this vocational and career training for women in partnership with ICATEC,” said Maria Gutierrez, president of KBGCNA and director of corporate responsibility and sustainability at Bendix. “All women should have the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge required to live an empowered life, allowing them to be self-sufficient or to start their own business if that’s their goal. We’re happy to be a part of that by creating a program that gives women the skills and training they need to do this.”
The new program for area women is the latest example of Knorr-Bremse Global Care North America, Bendix, and ICATEC partnering for the good of the community. Other recent efforts include a vocational training program in light manufacturing skills that benefited hundreds of at-risk youth in Acuña.
To view the entire announcement, click HERE.
