Responsibility
Communities
With the experience of operating in different parts of the Americas, the Group has adopted a culture of collaborating with the local communities surrounding our projects and operations. This desire to promote the development of the communities, respect for their human rights and their environment form the core of our corporate strategy that we describe as “Operating Responsibly”.
To do this, our primary objective is to maintain a constructive relationship with communities and promote development, guided by the following principles:
- Foster mutual respect and co-existence with local communities
- Achieve mutually beneficial agreements
- Improve the quality of life of community residents
- Improve the health, nutrition and education of local community members
- Encourage good relationships and co-ordination with stakeholders to promote sustainable development.
In 2018, we focused our efforts on re-evaluating our understanding about our relationships with the communities that surround Hochschild’s mining operations by commissioning a consulting firm to carry out community-wide surveys and focus groups. The findings in this survey have informed our approach and social investment strategies to be better aligned with each of our mining units’ unique communities.
In addition, we have continued to pursue programmes in the following areas:
Education
Elementary education
Contributing to the education of community members living close to our operations has been an established part of our social support. Each year we evaluate programmes and direct our efforts at those where we maximise value for students, teachers and parents.
In 2018, we maintained our vision of the education of the future, and how to best support our communities on getting there. We provided intelligent classrooms to 314 students and 37 teachers in 12 schools located across our sphere of influence. Intelligent classrooms include a computer equipped with digital academic resources to support teaching, and a projector for teacher and student use. Additionally, we support teachers with academic specialists who train them on the use of information technologies and on how to incorporate them into class sessions.
Secondary education
Hochschild supports programmes that promote personal development and basic economic/business awareness to equip those in secondary education for their early adult lives.
Over the course of 2018, we have collaborated with over 500 secondary students and almost 100 teachers across seven educational establishments.
Digital inclusion
We have promoted IT literacy through the ongoing support of four digital centres supporting 484 participants in urban areas close to our operations. These digital centres comprise computer laboratories and Hochschild-hired ICT specialists who provide training and technical support for the local population. We provide training in the form of two-year technical courses open to the whole community. This initiative has been made possible through a partnership with Cisco and the technical institute, Tecsup.
Health
Medico de Cabecera (the Travelling Doctor programme)
With the Travelling Doctor Programme, trained field doctors serve our most remote communities in a mobile medical unit. This programme is highly valued by both the young and old as it brings health coverage to areas that local state services do not reach. In 2018 the programme facilitated over 9,000 attendances.
Socio-economic development
Business networks
This programme, originally established in 2013 with only 25 participants, has seen an impressive level of growth in the past few years with over 350 participants in 2018. The project was originally set up with community members living close to the Inmaculada mine who today have become suppliers to the mine’s catering contractors.
Katari Case Study
Hochschild, in partnership with Mandu, a technology company, designed a software programme that assists the Community Relations team to document their interactions with communities and their needs. The system will enhance the way the Group engages with its communities, making it more responsive and to monitor the fulfilment of its commitments
Argentina
In conjunction with its joint venture partner, the Group has also promoted a number of initiatives at the San Jose operation in Argentina. These have included scholarship opportunities, technical training and subsequent employment of students from the town of Perito Moreno, located near the mine, and support of local cultural causes, such as infrastructure improvements to the local museum and municipality, as well as the hosting of recreational activities