Renowned organizations and companies participated in the 2024 edition of the CORMA Awards, where Cautín was recognized with the ‘2024 Community Engagement Initiative Award.'”
The ‘Corma Awards,’ an initiative of the Chilean Timber Corporation, aims to recognize the effort and dedication towards the growth of the industry and its positive impact on communities. In its 2024 edition, Cautín was distinguished for its commitment to community relations through the ‘Education + Connectivity’ program, which seeks to reduce the digital gap and enhance digital skills in students and teachers at several rural schools in the La Araucanía region.
In a ceremony held at the Pablo Neruda Museum in Temuco, Cautín was honored with the ‘Cóndor de los Vientos’ award, a wooden sculpture symbolizing its contribution to communities, one of Cautín’s core values, which is consistently promoted through the design and execution of its productive activities and community engagement programs.
The president of Corma, Juan José Ugarte, remarked on the presentation of this recognition stating ‘No economic sector can survive if its social base disappears. It is essential to expand employment in the communes, promote technology, and foster sustainable development.’ He also explained that for this edition, they choose to move the awards ceremony to the regions of Chile, where 38 awards were presented to individuals, organizations, and companies.
Education + Connectivity Program
Cautín began its activities in the La Araucanía region 33 years ago with the goal of contributing to the region’s economic and social development, which led to the creation of strong bonds with the environment and local communities. In line with this vision, in 2022, Cautín and the Enseña Chile Foundation formed a strategic alliance through the ‘Education + Connectivity’ project, aimed at reducing the digital gap and improving the quality of education in 24 rural schools across the region.
According to the study on the characterization of rural education in Chile, published in 2021, 94% of respondents believe that the main challenge for rural education is the lack of internet connectivity. Cautín addressed this concern not only through technological implementation but also by providing comprehensive training for teachers, students, and communities to help them develop digital skills.
Luis Alfaro, Cautín’s Sustainability Manager, reaffirmed this by stating: ‘This award demonstrates that the work we have done with the 24 schools has been remarkable so far and also answers many questions about how a company interacts with its surroundings. We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition, it gives us strength and motivation to keep contributing to education and working hand in hand with students and teachers from neighboring schools, to support the development of our children and their communities.
Cautín has successfully implemented Starlink satellite internet, improving connectivity in remote areas. Additionally, through a two-year training program, it has empowered more than 80 teachers, equipping them with the tools needed to transform education.
