Codelco El Teniente Division's commitment to female inclusion in the mining industry has led to the growing development of sports activities that, day by day, are gaining followers in the management of the Mine, Plant, Foundry and Mine Works. Organized, women from the Division's operational areas are participating in championships and sports-recreational activities and strengthening teamwork.

Currently, El Teniente has its own staff of 551 women, in addition to 1,511 workers from collaborating companies.

Among those more than two thousand workers, teams such as Cobregom emerged, a group that brings together 21 players from the companies Aura, DCM, JEJ, Gardilcic, TyM and Codelco.

Josefa Garrido, engineer from the Mine Works Management (GOM) and member of the team, explains that “we got together with the aim of highlighting the role of women in the mining industry, promoting gender equality and strengthening teamwork outside the workplace. In our case, through soccer, we seek to create a space for integration and visibility of female talent.”

El Teniente's Operations Manager, Claudio Sougarret, highlights that "playing sports is connected with Codelco's Charter of Values and the value of collaboration emerges. If there is no sense of teamwork, it is difficult to achieve the goal and that is why it is important to promote connection with the common objective."

Teamwork

“Teamwork has many benefits. Sport is an activity that benefits us socially, psychologically and physically,” says Kimberlin Parraguez, a risk prevention specialist at the Bormax company and a member of the women’s soccer team at Fundición de Caletones.

Soledad Irrazabal, a Fusion and Conversion operator at Caletones, also highlights that “participating in these recreational activities allows you to meet colleagues and collaborators from different areas, beyond the work environment.”

Since the traditional Olympics of the Mina Sports Club were resumed in 2022 after the pandemic, female participation has also been added, which increased thanks to the apprenticeship program, an initiative focused on promoting the incorporation of women in the mining industry in the region without the need for prior experience.

“It is gratifying to see how these instances of integration and camaraderie are consolidated and reflect the union of the miners,” commented Rodrigo Andrades, manager of Mines.

Another example of the activities organized was the recent inter-management soccer tournament, in which nearly 70 women from teams from the Mine, Plant, Foundry and Mine Works participated and which was won by the “Las Fundidas” team from Caletones.

"Getting together to play sports is necessary. We get to know our colleagues beyond work and we have fun," said Paulina Durán, operator in the Refining and Molding area.