The opening ceremony of the Mentoring program, organized by the Seremi de Minería de O'Higgins together with Codelco División El Teniente, took place at the Occupational Health and Safety Training Center (CESSO) in El Teniente. The program seeks to promote female participation in mining by offering students from the region the opportunity to learn from professionals in the sector.

This year, 47 seventh and fourth grade students from the Francisco Encina Armanet, Ernesto Pinto Lagarrigue, Juan Hoppe Gantz Bicentennial Technical, President Pedro Aguirre Cerda, Machalí high schools and the Bernardo O'Higgins Technological Institute will participate in the program.

The Undersecretary of Mining, Suina Chahuán, who headed the activity, said she was “very pleased to be part of this launch, where we can see how public-private collaboration is important to increase our labor participation figures in the mining industry.”

Rodrigo Andrades, Mines Manager at Codelco's El Teniente Division, said that the program "has two key focuses. First, to increase women's participation in mining, which has been shown to improve productivity and the work environment. And second, to support the community and public education, offering students the opportunity to access the world of work."

Impact of the program

Since its creation in 2016, the Mentoring Program has benefited more than 240 students in O'Higgins. The initiative aims to enrich the academic training of the students, giving them access to the experience that workers from different operational and administrative areas have had.

The regional minister for mining, Barbara Gavia, explained that “these programs are the beginning of the inclusion of women in mining. This initiative reaffirms the intention of the State, companies and high schools on this path.”

Meanwhile, the regional secretary for Women and Gender Equality, Constanza Valencia, added that "this launch is part of Codelco's initiatives to include women in mining, encouraging students to enter the sector. We highlight the social responsibility of keeping women in this context, by working on gender equality."

“She is an inspiration for us”

Antonia Cerda, a student at the Juan Hoppe Gantz Technical High School in Olivar, said that "the opportunity to share with professionals in the field is great, because it allows us to clear up our doubts and see how it really works. I think this program opens many doors for us and helps us decide our professional future."

For her part, Samira Solís, a student at the Ernesto Pinto Lagarrigue High School in Rancagua, added that “the program will help me decide my future career. I also feel that it is important that these initiatives exist, because they open up more opportunities for women like us, in a labor market that is sometimes difficult to access.”

Meanwhile, Jasmin Barrera, a student at the Bernardo O'Higgins Mining Technological Institute in Rancagua, said that "it is essential that initiatives like this exist because they allow us to learn more about mining and the role of women in it. Seeing more and more women joining this industry is an inspiration for us."

Strengthening vocational training

Over the next few months, the young women will work alongside 16 Codelco mentors, who will guide them in activities related to mining and metallurgical processes, giving them a closer look at the sector.

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental pillars in the transformation of Codelco El Teniente. Through a clear strategy and ambitious goals in gender equality, the Division has committed to increasing female participation in all its operations, with the goal of reaching 35% female representation by 2035.

Ignacio Salinas, Director of Integration at Codelco El Teniente Division, explained that "this program has a direct impact on social value by investing in local talent and in the region's future professionals. In addition, it reinforces economic value by integrating these young women into mining, contributing to the sustainability of our workforce and the future of the industry."