In April 2018, UN Women and Teck announced the extension of their partnership and the development of a new training centre to empower Indigenous women in northern Chile, funded through a US$1 million investment from Teck. The investment will extend the Originarias program and support the goal of providing Indigenous women in northern Chile with access to high-quality, culturally relevant, flexible training programs with a focus on economic development, entrepreneurship and business management skills.
“Teck is focused on helping to empower women and Indigenous Peoples in the areas where we operate so they can fully share in the economic benefits created by responsible resource development,” said Don Lindsay, President and CEO, Teck. “We are proud to build on our partnership with UN Women to provide access to education and training that will strengthen women and Indigenous communities, and create a more diverse and thriving regional economy.”
From 2016 to 2018, the Originarias program undertook research and engagement involving over 250 women in the region. This research identified access to education and training as a key factor for improving socio-economic opportunities for women in northern Chile. The next phase for the Originarias program will be the development of a new training centre to provide education and capacity building to empower Indigenous women in the regions of Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama and Coquimbo in Chile.
