We are proud to celebrate World Education Day every year on 24 January by reaffirming our ongoing commitment to driving systemic, long-term change through innovative and impactful educational programmes.
We firmly believe that education is crucial in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges, such as poverty, inequality and unemployment. By enhancing access to quality education, we aim to equip students with the skills and opportunities they need to thrive, and our global education programmes exemplify our partnership-focused approach to delivering on our Thriving Communities pillar of our Sustainable Mining Plan.
Our approach is built on a whole-school framework that transforms schools into safer, more creative, and more effective learning environments. This approach, underpinned by evidence-based education practices, ensures that schools can deliver high-quality education while being more manageable and conducive to learning. By working closely with school communities in a co-constructive process, we ensure the relevance, quality and commitment to the programmes we implement.
Commenting on our approach, David Viera, our Education & Community Skills Manager, said: “We seek to transform the school today so that children and young people can transform the world tomorrow. We aim to drive a paradigm shift in education, working together with partners and society to create lasting impact.”
Since 2018, across the communities in which we operate in globally – including in Chile, Peru, Brazil, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and others – we have supported more than 400 schools. While our projects are at various stages of implementation, we have seen a remarkable increase in students’ motivation to learn and become change-makers in their communities. Teachers are also embracing new methodologies, dedicating themselves to ongoing professional development and integrating innovative practices into their classrooms.
Modelo Pionero: our innovative approach to education in action
In Chile, our Modelo Pionero is an educational approach that aims to form well-rounded students connected to their surroundings, encouraging them to become agents of change in their communities through methodologies such as Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Challenge-Based Learning (CBL). Set up in 2016, Modelo Pionero currently impacts over 16,000 students and more than 1,600 teachers in 41 institutions in the Metropolitan and Valparaíso regions of Chile.
In December 2024, we hosted our third Modelo Pionero Fair in Santiago, Chile. The event has become a showcase for the creativity, talent and commitment of students from institutions involved in this educational approach. In the lead up to the fair, students integrate their learnings and propose innovative solutions to the issues in their communities.
The latest fair featured over 50 initiatives, addressing topics ranging from innovative solutions to environmental challenges to proposals promoting inclusion and community well-being. Each booth was a demonstration of the transformative potential of education when it connects students to their reality.
The Director of the Innovation Center of the Ministry of Education in Chile, Martín Cáceres, highlighted the importance of these spaces, saying: “Educational innovation is happening every day and in all educational spaces across the country. This fair has already shown us, for three years, that it is possible to generate learning by giving space to the creativity and ability of children and young people to imagine the world they want to live in.”
Looking ahead, we continue to strengthen and expand our programmes by taking a more systemic approach. Our goal is not only to improve the schools we work with but also to create a broader impact on the education system, leveraging the multiplier effect to benefit entire communities. We are committed to building stronger partnerships with both public and private organisations to amplify our impact and share learnings and resources.
On this World Education Day, we celebrate the progress we have made and reaffirm our commitment to fostering a brighter future for students and communities through education. We remain dedicated to creating lasting, positive change that empowers the next generation to build a better tomorrow.