Thanks to the support of workers from the company Aura, a collaborator of the Minas Works Management, the Tricahuitos Kindergarten in Coya reached the third stage to obtain environmental certification from the National System of Educational Establishments (SNCAE). This step is key to promoting environmental management in the educational centers of the region and with the advice, the establishment completed its file on the system's platform.

To date, more than 30 activities have been carried out in relation to the curriculum, internal management and relations with the environment. These include recycling initiatives, celebrations of anniversaries, planting, garbage dump clean-ups, educational talks and visits to Hacienda Cauquenes in El Teniente.

Margarita Espinoza, a kindergarten teacher and substitute director of the kindergarten, explained that “we were asked to apply for this project. From there, we began to work on many activities. We started with boxes of soil in the yard and now we even have drip irrigation. The children have a sense of belonging to everything that has been achieved through the activities, they feel it is their own. We feel proud of all the progress we have made.”

This collaboration is part of the Environment and Communities Procedure (PMAC) of Codelco El Teniente Division. Through this initiative, the connection between collaborating companies and local communities is promoted to promote sustainable operations.

Cintya Salas, environmental manager of the Esmeralda Mine Preparation Project in Aura, explained that “the collaborating companies had to get involved with the communities and present a project. Here we saw a specific need because some in Coya were unaware of environmental certification, which is government aid, and since they were unaware of the requirements, we wanted to support them.”

Contribute to nearby communities

Children from the establishment participated in a workshop where they made healing ointments with medicinal herbs from their own garden. Through this activity, they learned to recognize the plants they grow and transform them into natural products, strengthening their connection with the environment.

Raúl Veloso, a worker and volunteer in the activity, said that “participating is an enriching process. Children are the future and it is important to raise awareness from a young age.”

Valentina Zamora Tapia, the company's environmental manager, said that "it has been enriching to involve the children, associating them with the care of nature. These experiences are very nice because they allow us to participate with a community and get closer to them."