Tourism and its impact on Atacama
In the San Pedro de Atacama commune, approximately 80% of the population is employed in tourism or related activities. The health crisis caused by Covid-19 had a significant economic impact due to the complete cessation of this activity in the area.
To cope with this new reality, the Alto Jama Neighborhood Association launched a Solidarity Bakery to support its members, many of whom are not generating income.
Creation of the Solidarity Bakery
The Neighborhood Association built a clay oven so that its members could bake bread for free, contributing to the family economy of those who have been affected by the end of tourism.
The initiative was supported by a group of SQM workers, who submitted the project to the Social Dining Halls Support Fund , promoted by the company to strengthen the work carried out by social organizations in times of pandemic.
Thanks to this application, the group of volunteers contributed a total of 750 kilos of supplies , including flour, salt and yeast.
Community organization and support for families
As explained by Luz Riquelme , president of the Alto Jama Neighborhood Association:
“SQM’s contribution, beyond providing financial support during these difficult times, is strengthening our community. Here, they cook and bake their own bread. Thirty families use our facilities, and we’ve already provided supplies to another ten families who have ovens in their homes.”
Families organize themselves in shifts and use the facilities according to a schedule, maintaining social distancing. The amount of supplies delivered depends on the number of members in each family group.
Claudia Choque added:
“The pandemic has affected us a lot because we don’t have jobs, so we are grateful for the support. There are five of us in my family, and we are saving 2,000 pesos every day.”
Volunteer work from SQM Salar
The project was presented by Hugo Romero , a resident of Peine and an employee of SQM Salar, along with three other employees of the company:
“We are very happy to have been awarded the project because we are contributing our bit to a neighborhood association in the area made up of hardworking people, and where children, women and the elderly will benefit.”
Community Kitchen Support Fund
In response to the crisis caused by Covid-19, SQM, together with Fundación La Semilla, launched a competitive fund to support organizations that implement social dining facilities throughout Chile.
In total, 56 projects were selected , directly benefiting 13.468 people through the delivery of food and kitchen supplies.
Regarding this initiative, Pablo Pisani , Communications, Sustainability and Public Affairs Manager at SQM, stated:
“Within the framework of the corporate volunteering program Give a Hand to Your Community , the workers made visible their connection with the territory in which they live, managing to fill all the available slots in this solidarity fund.”
He added that:
“Through these projects we will be able to help various social organizations that include unemployed people, people over 70 years old, people with disabilities and vulnerable individuals among their members.”
Areas where the projects are being implemented
The initiatives are being developed in various municipalities across the country, including:
San Pedro de Atacama, Arica, Iquique, Alto Hospicio, Pozo Almonte, María Elena, Tocopilla, Calama, Antofagasta, Taltal, La Serena, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Santiago, Colina, Pedro Aguirre Cerda, Pudahuel, Maipú, La Pintana, Conchalí, Lampa and Pichidehua.
Complementary initiative to the SQM community plan
This fund is part of the community action plan promoted by SQM to address the health crisis, which considers four priority areas: Health , social welfare , education and healthy living , and economic recovery.
