A group of women from the coastal communities of Chanavayita, Cáñamo and Caramucho in the Province of Iquique received certificates recognising their outstanding participation in a personal development programme.
The Women’s Leadership Plan for the coastal communities of Chanavayita, Cáñamo and Caramucho, developed by Teck in partnership with SMI Chile, concluded its personal skills development programme with a special recognition ceremony for the 15 women who successfully completed the course, as well as awards for the programme’s most outstanding participants.
The event concluded with a luncheon attended by SMI Chile’s Social Performance team and Teck representatives Cristián Berríos, Macarena Machado and Cristóbal Maturana, who joined community leaders, entrepreneurs and shellfish harvesters from these coastal communities in Chile’s Tarapacá Region. The initiative was delivered by Teck in collaboration with SMI Chile’s Social Performance and Resource Governance team.
The programme commenced in November last year and was structured around five monthly modules: self-awareness and self-esteem, limiting beliefs, emotional management, work-life balance, and empowerment. These themes were identified through a survey conducted in November 2024 with 131 women from the participating communities.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of this closing ceremony,” said Camila Cabrera, SMI Chile’s coordinator and facilitator of the programme, “was witnessing the transformation that took place in each participant and seeing how valuable it was for the women to recognise not only their own growth, but also that of their peers.
“Empowerment,” she continued, “does not happen in isolation. It is built through community, active listening, mutual support and empathy, and above all through the collective recognition of the progress each woman achieves throughout the journey. We hope that everything experienced and learned through this programme will also resonate within their organisations and communities, helping to strengthen new forms of leadership and support among women.”
“For me, being part of these activities has meant a great deal,” said Ana Liefoc, a community leader from Caramucho, who was initially reluctant to speak in public but eventually volunteered to do so. “Taking part alongside other women gave me greater confidence and helped me cope with some of my personal challenges.”
