Copel wins national award with project that has already benefited 1.9 million people

Copel won second place in the 6th Inspiring Connections Award with the Illuminating Generations program, an initiative that promotes awareness about the safe and efficient use of electricity among Paraná students. The national recognition was announced on Wednesday (11), during a ceremony held at Belo Horizonte (MG).

Created in the 1970s, the program has directly benefited more than 1.9 million people and has been present in the 395 municipalities of the company’s concession area. Among the cities served is Ponta Grossa, in Campos Gerais, where the guidelines shared in schools already present practical results in the prevention of domestic accidents.

The Connections that Inspire Award, created in 2021 by the Corporate Volunteer Community (CMVC), recognizes companies that encourage their employees to participate in voluntary initiatives with a positive impact on society.

Copel program brings education and safety to schools

The Illuminando Gerações serves students from the 3rd to the 9th year of Elementary School, mainly children and adolescents between 8 and 14 years.

The activities are conducted by Copel volunteer employees, who share knowledge on electric accident prevention, conscious energy consumption and preservation of the recursos naturais.

The actions include lectures, theatrical presentations, interactive games, videos and pedagogical materials. Participating students receive educational kits with booklets, notebooks and school materials.

During the award ceremony, the coordinator of the program, Chirley Bremm dos Anjos, highlighted the involvement of volunteer professionals.

“When I went on stage to receive the award, I thought of all the children and teenagers who went through the program, the curious eyes during the visits, the questions, the smiles and the enthusiasm of those who are beginning to discover the world and dream about the future,” she said.

In Ponta Grossa, child guidance helps prevent electric shock

An example of the impact of the program took place in Ponta Grossa, in June 2026, during an activity held at the Municipal School Djalma de Almeida César.

According to the volunteer Leandro Gomes de Souza, the knowledge shared during the lecture reached the routine of a family of the city.

"A friend came to thank me because when he went to change a lamp at home, his son said he had to turn off the circuit breaker to avoid a shock because it was 'the boy from Copel' who spoke," he said.

The episode demonstrates how the guidance received by the students can go beyond the limits of the classroom and contribute to the prevention of accidents within the residences.

For Leandro, the participation of students is one of the main indicators of the importance of educational work.

"It's very good when children ask questions because it shows how much they are attentive to what we talk about and it reflects on their conduct," she added.

Teen Program has already reached more than 13,000 participants in Paraná

Copel also expanded its educational activities with the launch of Illuminating Generations Teen, created in June 2024 and aimed at 8th and 9th graders.

The lectures began effectively in August 2025, with content adapted to the teenage audience.

Developed in partnership with the Energy Efficiency Program (PEE), of the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel), and the Instituto Crescer, the initiative presents expressive results.

Until the period reported by the company, the project accounted for:

102 schools attended in 85 municipalities of Paraná;

120 lectures conducted;

13,580 participants in the activities;

12,000 distributed educational kits;

More than 400 teachers trained through online training.

Exclusive kits include backpack, squeeze, pen and 40-page educational booklet.

Recognition reinforces the importance of prevention

According to the program manager, Fabio Maciel Borges, the initiative contributes directly to the training of more conscious citizens and to the reduction of risk situations involving electricity.

"More than transmitting information, the initiative stimulates behavioral changes that directly impact the protection of life," he said.

The Superintendent of Sustainability of Copel, Luisa Nastari, also stressed that the award recognizes the work carried out by the volunteers and the social impact of the actions.

“By bringing knowledge about safety, citizenship, sustainability and conscious use of energy, we contribute to forming generations more prepared for the challenges of the future,” he said.

In addition to school activities, the company highlights that the teachings are shared by students with family, friends and neighbors, broadening the scope of the guidelines.

With more than five decades of experience, Iluminando Gerações is consolidated as an important preventive education initiative in the Paraná, connecting the knowledge of Copel professionals to the safety of communities.