On the morning of December 16, 2025, Peru time, the Tsinghua University Latin America Center team held an exchange with Clever Gallegos, the person in charge of the Choaquere Community Nursery Program of Minera Las Bambas S.A.. Attendees included Chen Taotao, Professor of Finance Department of School of Economics & Management, Tsinghua University, Director of the Tsinghua University Latin America Center, and Director of Center for China-Latin America Management Studies, School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University; as well as Rong Yu, a postdoctoral researcher, and Feng Jian and Qiao Ziyi, PhD candidates from the School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University.
During the meeting, Professor Chen Taotao, Director of the Latin America Center, elaborated on the primary objectives of the discussion and expressed heartfelt gratitude to Clever Gallegos for attending the interview. Clever Gallegos shared his personal experience, describing how he chose to stay in his birthplace after returning, drawn by the nursery project of Minera Las Bambas S.A., and gradually grew into the project leader. Clever Gallegos pointed out that Minera Las Bambas S.A. provided the project with seedlings, supplies, and continuous technical support, enabling him to collaborate with community members, including the elderly and single mothers, to advance forestry cultivation work. Currently, as the project coordinator, he is responsible for technical guidance and daily management, and actively explores diversified livelihood channels such as mushroom sales and handicraft production. Professor Chen Taotao stated that this process demonstrates the positive results achieved by the company in effectively cultivating the endogenous strength of the community and promoting sustainable practices through project support and technical empowerment.
Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as the synergistic pathways for ecological protection and livelihood development in resource-dependent regions, the role of enterprises in fostering community endogenous dynamics, and the sustainable development mechanisms for community-led projects. They agreed that by providing a stable project platform, technical resources, and a community collaboration framework, Minera Las Bambas S.A. has effectively supported residents in transforming their personal skills and environmental concerns into sustainable community endeavors. This empowerment model, which is project-based and resident-centered, provides a valuable practical reference for mining regions exploring environmentally friendly, community-led, and diversified future livelihoods.
Group Photo of the Latin America Center Team and Clever Gallegos
Group Photo of the Latin America Center Team and Related Personnel from the Choaquere Community
Group Photo of the Latin America Center Team and Clever Gallegos
