Rio, November 19, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The president of the Federation of Industries of Rio de Janeiro (Firjan), Eduardo Eugênio Vieira, and 84 mayors from the state of Rio received the certificate for a program with high social impact, presented by ambassador Walter Franco, representative in Brazil of the United Nations Development Program. "Transform," as the program is known, is aimed at eliminating illiteracy among adolescents from 15 to 19 throughout the state, and it has already taught literacy to 16,690 young people.

United Nations' recognition of the project was based on a rigorous process of evaluating classes in various municipalities in the State of Rio, in 2001; consideration was given to the methods of teaching and strategy of implantation through establishing partnerships. (DAS)