Carlos Pereira, Creator of Livox, Wins Social Entrepreneur Award in 2016

11/14/2016 - 11h19

Systems Analyst Carlos Pereira, who is 38 years of age and the creator of Livox, was the winner of the 12th Edition of the Social Entrepreneur Award 2016 (Prêmio Empreendedor Social 2016) on Monday night (the 7th) in a ceremony in the Porto Seguro Theatre in São Paulo.

The competition is the largest of its kind in Latin American, and is a partnership between Folha and the Schwab Foundation, a sister entity to the World Economic Forum.

Livox is an application that allows for communication by people with deficiencies or illnesses that affect speech and was developed by the social entrepreneur to enable him to communicate with his nine-year-old daughter Clara, who has cerebral palsy caused by a medical accident at birth.

"I do the work for my daughter and will continue doing my part to have an impact on even more people throughout the world. This award is for the real heroes, who are the people with deficiencies", said the winner, after receiving the trophy from the hands of Karen Demavivas, leader for the Schwab Foundation in the Americas.

The Brazilian technology was considered to be the best inclusive communication tool in the world by the UN. It was chosen as the winner of the competition which had two other social cause entries: the Morada da Floresta created by Cláudio Spínola, and Magnameg, founded by Tatsuo Suzuki.

Karen Demavivas, who was present at the ceremony representing Hilde Schwab, cofounder of the Schwab Foundation, highlighted the importance of recognizing social entrepreneurs who are contributing to the development of society and the economy during this challenging economic moment for Brazil.

"The entrepreneurial spirit becomes more important than ever to help in restoring faith in civil society, in the market, in civil engagement and above all in the commitment to responsibility and transparency", Demavivas said.

Folha's executive editor highlighted the support of Schwab and 28 other partners who are the most representative of the Third Sector and in promoting social issues in Brazil.

"We created together, Folha and Schwab, a network of strong and renowned social entrepreneurs, people who are in the vanguard and make a difference in the areas of education, health, environmental preservation and social inclusion", he said.

The winners were chosen by Hilde Schwab, chairman of the Schwab Foundation's board for Social Entrepreneurs; Elie Horn, founder and chairman of the board of Cyrela, a developer and construction company; Maria Cristina Frias, "Business" columnist from Folha; and Alexandra Loras, former French Consul and activist for the empowerment of black women.

Other jury members included Ana Paula Vescovi, Secretary of the National Treasury Department; Cláudio Sassaki and Eduardo Bontempo, co-founders of Geekie and winners of the award in 2014; Ana Lucia Villela, president of the Alana Institute; and Ricardo Siqueira, executive director for Institutional Relations of the Dom Cabral Foundation.

Villela, who has been running an institute that for 24 years has been active in projects related to full childhood experience and living, highlighted the stamp of approval that the award signifies to the finalists.

"The award is instrumental in showcasing the work of the great entrepreneurs, to provide visibility to their projects and causes and for this area of society", declared the social entrepreneur and jury member in this 12th edition.

"When I read the report about each finalist more deeply, I learned not only more about them, but about my own work", she emphasized. "The evaluation of the jury was conducted with the utmost seriousness."

At the end of the ceremony, actress Maria Fernanda Cândido, master of ceremonies of this 12th edition, bade farewell to the 400 guests that filled the Porto Seguro theatre, declaring that it had been one of the most moving events in which she had participated.

"I am very pleased to have been invited, because awarding people who use intelligence, creativity and invest their time in making our life in society better is a great pleasure and honor", she declared.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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	Dan Stulbach
	Carlos Pereira (38) is the creator of Livox and was the winner of the 12th Edition of the Social Entrepreneur Award 2016