The Chilean-British Chamber of Commerce (BritCham Chile) participated in the 4th Modelo Pionero Fair, held on Thursday, 27 November, from 12:00 to 16:00 hrs at the Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM) in Santiago. The event was organised by the Anglo American Foundation, a long-standing member of BritCham, and brought together students, teachers, local authorities and strategic partners to showcase the transformative role of education in territorial development.

Anglo American, through its Foundation, promoted the Modelo Pionero Programme as part of its long-term social investment agenda, grounded in the conviction that education is the most powerful driver of sustainable development and a key mechanism to transform realities. The initiative strengthened public education by fostering innovation, empowering teachers and enhancing community engagement, positioning young people at the centre of change in their surroundings.

The programme supported more than 19,000 students across 46 public schools in the Metropolitan and Valparaíso regions, enabling children and teenagers to learn by developing purpose-driven projects, applying creativity, collaboration and critical thinking to tackle real-world challenges. The fair provided a platform for over 60 projects inspired by local needs and guided by a vision of public education as a pathway to equity and opportunity.

Throughout the fair, students presented innovative solutions shaped during the academic year, ranging from environmental stewardship and technological prototypes to social inclusion initiatives within their communities. This approach demonstrated measurable impact in schools, reinforcing a renewed culture of learning that integrates knowledge with action and strengthens the bond between educational institutions and their territories.

BritCham Chile recognised the outstanding leadership of Anglo American and its team — including Catalina Torres, who hosted the session; Lilian Becerra, Educational Advisor at the foundation; Max González Varas, Director of Escuela Básica Río Blanco, one of the participating schools; as well as Claudia Ruiz-Tagle, Executive Director of the Anglo American Foundation, and Loreto Jara, Specialist in Teacher Training — who joined in the ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally launch the event.

This experience highlighted a shared belief: that cross-sector collaboration — between businesses, educational institutions, public authorities and local communities — is essential to build a fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable Chile. For BritCham, it also reinforced the relevance of British and Chilean cooperation in promoting future-focused skills and models that enhance educational outcomes across the country.

BritCham Chile invited its members and partners to attend and celebrate the dedication of the students, teachers and communities behind the Modelo Pionero Programme. The fair was open to the public and required no prior registration, enabling wide participation and visibility for these transformative learning experiences.