Successful first edition of AES Chile's Participatory Global Fund for neighboring communities of the Mesamávida Wind Farm

April 30, 2024

• The first edition of the Mesamávida Wind Farm Participatory Global Fund concluded with great success, implemented throughout 2023 in collaboration with the community organizations of the rural areas surrounding Mesamávida, San Francisco Cuel, Paso de Arena, and San Manuel.

During this initiative, various community projects were developed, guided by the AES Chile Foundation, which, through its social investment strategy, collaborated to benefit the communities. The Mesamávida Neighborhood Association drafted a project to adapt a multipurpose hall to host activities that promote social participation and cohesion. The first phase of the project involved the construction of a small soccer field, inaugurated in December with community representatives, the municipal delegation from Santa Fe, and AES Chile.

In San Francisco Cuel, resources were allocated to expand the community center, while neighborhood organizations in Paso de Arena and San Manuel focused on environmental conservation and energy efficiency projects. These included the installation of solar-powered lights in strategic locations and solar-powered water extraction pumps.

These innovative initiatives will continue to be funded by the fund for the next 29 years, the operational lifespan of the Mesamávida wind farm. Social projects were developed through workshops facilitated by the AES Chile Foundation team, aiming to gather ideas through participatory and representative methodologies.

Gloria Álvarez, president of the San Manuel Neighborhood Association, stated, "These projects can be executed thanks to the contribution made by AES Chile through the Mesamávida wind farm. They help us formulate projects to make the most of them, as the team is always supporting us in what we need. In our case, the community is implementing solar water extraction pumps, which are very beneficial as they save costs for our households."

Macarena Badilla, head of social investment at the AES Chile Foundation, commented, "The first participatory fund of the Mesamávida wind farm is a milestone for both the neighbors and the company. Here, we embark on a long journey of development for the localities. We know that each of these projects arises from collaborative work between the neighbors and the team. Year after year, we will contribute to shaping ideas to help them realize their dreams."

Currently, the first edition is concluding, and preparations are underway for the second edition, in another joint effort between the foundation and the representatives of each neighborhood association