One third of the 4,398 Higher Education Scholarships that Codelco awarded this 2023 to workers of collaborating companies, and which are established in the Framework Agreement, were assigned to people who work in the El Teniente Division and the Teniente Project Portfolio, with a total of 1,497 beneficiaries.

This financial support, which amounts to $959,840 gross pesos and was delivered at the end of last September, could be obtained by students who are children, spouses or cohabitants of contracted or subcontracted workers and/or the workers themselves.

Germán Sandoval, Sustainability and External Affairs Manager at El Teniente, highlighted that “the opportunity presented in the Framework Agreement for people from collaborating companies is, without a doubt, a great opportunity and we are delighted that a large part of the scholarships were assigned to those who are in the Division on a daily basis.”

“Investing in people is an opportunity and a way to make a better company. Our contract workers are important in the development of our goals and purposes,” he added.

Codelco has been providing this benefit since 2007 and in the last six years, 6,995 of these scholarships have been obtained by El Teniente contractor workers and their families.

“An incentive to shape the future”

Irene Villarroel works as a waitress at Aramark and appreciates the support for her daughter's education. "The fact that she received the scholarship was a great joy, as it is an incentive at this stage in her career and so that she can forge her future. Obviously, for me as a mother, it is an incentive to continue forward. I appreciate the support that Codelco gives us because it helps us fulfill the dream of seeing my daughter become an excellent professional."

Rocío Meza Villarroel, Irene's daughter and a psychology student at the University of O'Higgins, adds that "I am happy to have this benefit to continue studying and in a certain way help my parents, who are the ones who make the effort to pay for my studies."

MacLean operator Juan Farías is proud to highlight the contribution made by the scholarship provided by Codelco to his daughter's education. “It's great because it's a great support for the family's pocket. It helps us a lot to pay for her studies and her trips. It's a blessing and we are very grateful for Codelco's support.”

Her daughter, Sofía Farías Pinto, a nursing student at DUOC in San Bernardo, thanked the donation and said that “the education scholarships are an excellent initiative by Codelco because they provide resources that we do not have and that, in my case, have helped me a lot.”

For the Gardilcic quality inspector, Juan Carlos Rocha, the benefit provided by Codelco is an example. "My wife received the scholarship and it is excellent that a woman who is already the mother of grown children is helped to fulfill her dream of studying a higher education degree."

His wife, Ruth Valdebenito, a business administration student, received the news with “happiness. It is an honor to be considered for this benefit and it will help me pay tuition and monthly fees. My family hugged me, they were happy and told me: it is your effort, mom, how great that the company where our father works has had this opportunity .”