News

• In Tocopilla, the initiative has benefited 255 children over the last 8 years, thanks to the support of SQM.
• In María Elena, the kick-off for the ViLTI classes will take place this Friday at the “Tomás Simunovic” Community Relations Office.

Developing scientific skills through experimentation and scientific inquiry, as well as programming and educational robotics, are the hallmark of this educational laboratory, which in the Kunza language means ‘eaglets that take flight.’ The program will resume its activities in the classroom this month, carrying forward with work that began in the Antofagasta Region in 2013 thanks to the support of SQM.

Tocopilla

The first of these kick-off and graduation ceremonies took place on Friday, April 14 in Tocopilla, where children played a leading role, especially the members of the Thaya (‘air’ in Kunza) group, who received their diploma and the awaited ViLTI medals for graduating. These students, from eight to nine years of age, join the 255 students in the district who have benefited from the program since 2015.

Likewise, the 25 five-year-old girls and boys, who will be part of the Willka (‘rising sun’ in Aymara) group in 2023, were also welcomed. Kick-off and graduation ceremonies will also take place this Friday, April 21, in the district of María Elena.

“For the entire team, beginning the program’s tenth year in Tocopilla is synonymous with satisfaction and pride, because to sustain the program over time and also to have important qualitative and quantitative results are a testimony to the dedication and the way in which ViLTI does things. Today, with 25 Willkas and their families joining the program, the cycle continues,” said Olga Hernandez, ViLTI SeMANN’s director.

Manuel Ossandón, SQM’s Head of Community Engagement, also expressed appreciation for the initiative’s work in the community. “As SQM we are very pleased to have been part, for a long time, of this program aimed at developing skills in science, robotics and new technologies in children. As good neighbors, we believe that ViLTI is very beneficial to the community and undoubtedly provides important added value to our society.”

María Elena

In the district of María Elena, the kick-off and graduation ceremony is scheduled for Friday, April 21, at the “Tomás Simunovic” Community Relations Office, to be attended by girls and boys from the four ViLTI groups, their parents, teachers, mentors and special guests.

The program reached María Elena—the last operational nitrates office in the world—in 2018 and has benefited 120 children to date, contributing decisively to the development of human capital in the Antofagasta Region by implementing innovative educational strategies aimed at enhancing the cognitive development of children from 5 years of age.

ViLTI SeMANN is an initiative of the Vice Rector’s Office for Research and Technological Development at Universidad Católica del Norte, which in 2023 will continue with its workshops in the regions of Antofagasta and Tarapacá.