Foundation

This is a program carried out in partnership with Corantioquia that promotes community-based environmental education for children, youth, and adults in rural areas, encouraging sustainability and respect for the environment. The Mineros Foundation supports the initiative in its implementation across the municipalities of El Bagre, Nechí, and Anorí.

In 2024, the alliance with Corantioquia made it possible to add five new educational centers: the Regional Educational Centers (CER) Las Cruces and CER Providencia (Anorí), the Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Educational Institution (Nechí, Bella Fátima), and the Trinidad Arriba Educational Institution (Nechí, Fragua Abajo and San Pablo Abajo).

In addition, the program continued in 10 existing centers located in El Bagre and Nechí, including the La Arenosa and Trinidad Arriba Educational Institutions and the Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Educational Institution with its various campuses.

The program now benefits 15 educational centers, strengthening its impact on environmental education in the Bajo Cauca region, reaching 1,196 students and 25 teachers.

This alliance, made up of 19 institutions, includes the Government of Antioquia and the Mineros Foundation as the leading partners in the Bajo Cauca region. Its purpose is to transform rural education by introducing innovative teaching methods adapted to dispersed and rural contexts, under the guidance of the territorial operator Secretos para Contar.

In 2024, 116 educational institutions in El Bagre, Nechí, and Caucasia participated in the program. A total of 108 teachers were trained, reaching 2,281 students across the region. Additionally, 15 schools received new educational resources, including Tranquilo Rosario (Caucasia), Caño Ñeque (El Bagre), and the Quebrada Ciénaga and La Ceiba schools (Nechí).

Through this agreement, established as part of an annual donation to the Iberacademy program, up to 30 students per semester have benefited from undergraduate programs, continuing education, and living stipends. In return, scholarship recipients contribute to strengthening local music programs by supporting the Youth Symphonic Band (35 young people ages 14 to 28) and the Batuta program (110 children ages 6 to 12) through workshops and pedagogical activities.

With the support of the Mineros Foundation, lodging, transportation, and meals were provided for Iberacademy students and professors, ensuring the program’s accessibility and continuity.

This project strengthens personal development and community values through collective music practice. It brings music education to remote areas and helps overcome exclusion and inequality. Focusing on children, adolescents, young adults, and their families, the program fosters community life values, promotes peacebuilding, and enriches cultural identity.

In 2024, four cultural showcases were held, 329 training sessions were conducted, and 121 participants actively participated.

Through this agreement, playful and stimulating environments have been established to support 505 children in schools, Early Childhood Development Centers (CDIs), and private groups. These spaces allow children to explore, create, feel, and engage with Colombian, global, and children's music, enhancing their musicality and understanding of musical language.

The El Nido del Bajo Cauca music project adopts a comprehensive pedagogical approach that integrates various educational methodologies. It encourages the development of skills in musical comprehension, interpretation, and creation. This initiative places a special emphasis on children's music, world popular music, and traditional Colombian music.

This educational initiative aims to connect students from El Bagre's educational institutions with various academic disciplines through innovative, technology-based knowledge assessments. In 2024, outstanding students in each category were recognized and awarded, with 24 laptops given to the top winners.

Strategic partnerships were formed with Fundación Fútbol con Corazón, Fundación John Jader, Corporación Atlético Nacional, Comfenalco, Comfama, and the Mineros Foundation to promote peace and coexistence in the municipalities of El Bagre, Zaragoza, and Nechí. This was accomplished through cultural and sporting activities, including the organization of the Atlético Nacional Cup Tournament in Los Cargueros (Nechí) and support for Zaragoza's Soccer School through the donation of sports equipment.

In partnership with the Colombia in Peace Fund (BID) and Asapibas, efforts continued in 2024 to strengthen the productive, environmental, and commercial capacities of 87 small-scale beekeepers in the Bajo Cauca region, all belonging to the Asapibas association. The program has focused on promoting sustainable practices, improving honey production, and creating new opportunities for market integration.

A new alliance has been formed between Interactuar, Comfama, and the Mineros Foundation to enhance the business fabric of the Bajo Cauca region. This initiative provides entrepreneurs and small businesses with tools, knowledge transfer, and capacity-building opportunities to help them actively seek out opportunities and foster partnerships that promote sustainable development. This collaborative effort not only empowers local entrepreneurs but also contributes to creating a stronger and more resilient regional economy.

In partnership with the Instituto de la Conversación, the Mineros Foundation has launched a comprehensive strategy to create safe environments for women artisanal miners (barequeras). This initiative aims to reduce their exposure to gender-based violence, which is influenced by economic, cultural, and social factors. By implementing this strategy, the alliance seeks to ensure that women working in artisanal mining can do so in safer and more dignified conditions.