Entrepreneurs Gonzalo Ceballos (20 years) and Luis Farías (19 years) were awarded first prize in the 2011 Social Entrepreneurs program. The winning project is based on creating a sustainable recycling company that buys and sells waste material (cardboard, paper, tetra pack and glass), creating job opportunities in vulnerable sectors while at the same time contributing to environmental protection.
Second prize went to the “Chileconectados” project which involves installing an antenna to allow WIFI Internet access in risk sectors that the major telecommunication firms overlook.
The “Inter Agro, Cultivando Futuro” entrepreneurship proposal won third prize and seeks to improve quality of life for small-scale farmers, distributing crops directly to the end consumer which cuts out the middlemen and improves prices for the farmer.
The jury was formed by Ignacio Lacasta, Chairman of BBVA Chile; Susana Tonda, Executive Manager for Hogar de Cristo; Rodrigo Jordán, Executive Manager for Vertical S.A.; Guillermo Turner, Editor of El Pulso newspaper and Claudio Storm, Executive Manager for Fosis.
The Chairman of BBVA Chile, Ignacio Lacasta, pointed out the commitment and work of the 6 volunteers who acted as mentors to the young people who took part in the initiative.
The social entrepreneur program is part of the Group’s corporate responsibility strategy and seeks to equip young people with vocational careers and the necessary skills to design, create and plan innovation projects, providing funding to the best projects submitted.
