Tocopilla

Crazy for recycling

This is an initiative carried out by Mr. Barber Foundation, SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition and the Municipality of Tocopilla and Maria Elena, with the main purpose of encouraging good practices to care for the environment through community recycling.

Achievements:

• Participation and promotion of local recycling is encouraged.
• Continuation of the socio-environmental education program called “Recycling from the classroom and at home”.

El Puerto Co-work, Boosting Local Development

This is an initiative implemented by La Semilla Foundation, for the development of entrepreneurs and businessmen, who found a space where they can improve their skills and competencies, as well as enhance their businesses, strengthening economy and productivity of the towns located in Tocopilla -where their facilities operate- and Maria Elena. 

Achievements:

• During the 2nd version of the Sustainability Challenges 5 winning projects per region were chosen, and a total of 30 million pesos were distributed among them. A total of 325 entrepreneurs, SMEs and social organizations signed up for the challenge.
• Launched of Sustainable ADN, which gives continuity to the work carried out by the finalists of the Sustainability Challenges, with workshops and advisory services provided by experts in entrepreneurship, environment and circular economy.
• A showroom for Mother’s Day and Christmas, with the objective of showing the work of local entrepreneurs and providing a space for marketing and approaching potential customers.
• An event called “Sharing Experiences with Winners of Financing Funds” was organized with the purpose of highlighting the work of 10 entrepreneurs from Tocopilla and Calama.

Conducting biweekly workshops, starting in late September of 2023, called “Improve and Transform” in order to create new links around cooperation and collaborative work among the community of entrepreneurs in Tocopilla.

Hydroponics in Caleta Urco

 During 2023, we collaborated with the Neighborhood Council of Caleta Urco with the purpose of establishing their own hydroponic production. We encourage good agricultural practices with the professional advice of SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition, focusing on growing vegetables in hydroponic systems inside a greenhouse. Crops with high efficiency in water use were implemented, providing seeds, plants fertilizers, water and agrochemical components, along with a supervised plant nutrition program. 

Environmental Education Program

 This program seeks to train agents of change by developing a center of interest and an experimental Eco-neighborhood. It makes the community aware of the importance of caring for and respecting the environment, providing skills and competencies to replicate ecological initiatives. 

Achievements: 

• The project benefits 7 educational establishments in Tocopilla as well as the Neighborhood Council of 21 de Mayo.

“Tocopilla en Verde” Festival

 The “Tocopilla en Verde” festival was developed, in cooperation with Verdical, with the following slogan in mind: “Entrepreneurship, sustainability and environment”. This marked the end of the year for collaborative work between various organizations and students of the Tocopilla community.

Achievements:

• The fair was attended by various organizations of the commune, highlighting the diversity and vitality of Tocopilla.
• Presentation of the puppet play “One Earth”, an original idea created by the Aire Violeta Puppet and Storytelling Company.
• Annual recognition of two outstanding organizations in the commune: Pedro Aguirre Cerda School and the Neighborhood Council of 21 de Mayo.

Motivational talk by Javiera Toro Ibarra

The students of Pedro Aguirre Cerda School and Gabriela Mistral de Tocopilla School had a very pleasant day, since they were visited by the national soccer player Javiera Toro Ibarra. She shared her life story and sports career that led her to play in Europe, leaving the Chilean women’s soccer on a high note. 

Achievements:

• The activity was extended to schools and high schools located in Tocopilla, in addition to two other educational institutions located in Maria Elena.

• Around 2,000 students shared Javiera Toro Ibarra’s experience.

Support for Tocopilla’s Sport Club

We support Tocopilla’s Sports Club via the Sports Donations Law. The Club carried out cross-cutting work with different categories in its soccer schools, paying special attention to children from 8 to 14 years old, which currently comes to a total of 60 participants.

Achievements:

• Soccer schools for children were free of change and ran by a multidisciplinary technical team that takes care of the training aspects as well.
• The schools opened 3 times a week for a total of 4 hours per week for 8 months.
• Mini “World” Cup in Tocopilla: During the summer of 2022 and 2023, the 58th and 59th versions of this traditional soccer tournament in Tocopilla (Mini “World” Cup), organized by the Neighborhood Sports League and sponsored by the Municipality of Tocopilla and SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition, were held with great success and participation. The competition was held at the Alexander Kurtovic Sports Complex.
• In both versions, 16 teams participated in the adult and children’s categories, benefiting 640 people. 320 of the participants were adults, and 320 were children.
• For the 2023 version, an estimated 50,000 people were estimated to attend as an audience.

“Sembrando Salud” Program

We support the initiative started by Dr. Pedro Ziede, a physician from Antofagasta, and his medical team who voluntarily performed procedures and health care at the Marcos Macuada Community Hospital.

Achievements:

• 20 patients from Tocopilla underwent surgery.
• 12 infants underwent surgery, divided into adenotonsillectomies, phimosis and frenectomy; and 8 adult sterilization surgeries. 
• 31 patients had medical health care. 
• 43 ultrasounds scans were performed: 20 abdominal ultrasound scans and 23 renal bladder ultrasound scans. These were carried out by radiologists

“Farolito Costero” Intercultural Carnival

It is a cultural, patrimonial and artistic activity, a tradition in the commune, that allows the rescue of two specific emblems, one is the malesherbia tocopillana ricardi an endemic flora species known commonly as “farolito”, and the other one in the culture of the Chango indigenous people. This is why this carnival is called “Farolito Costero”. The economic, touristic and patrimonial development of the commune is promoted through this event as well.