The fires that affected the Valparaíso Region in February have been one of the biggest emergencies the country has faced in recent years, resulting in a high number of fatalities, destroyed homes, and displaced individuals. Consequently, in recent weeks, various public and private organizations have focused their efforts on reconstruction and supporting affected individuals in various ways to help them move forward.
Among the material losses caused by the emergency, many entrepreneurs lost tools and machinery, directly impacting their livelihoods. In response, the Luksic Foundation coordinated support for various entrepreneurs who are part of their Initial Boost, Women Take Off, and Chilean Boost programs.
In total, 15 entrepreneurs from Viña del Mar, Valparaíso, Villa Alemana, and Quilpué received machinery, tools, and a gift card for unrestricted use, enabling them to gradually resume the operation of their businesses.
One such case is Edith Diparodi, an entrepreneur from Viña del Mar, who has been knitting and creating amigurumis and other creations for six years. She explains that although her home was not in the affected area, she lost the canopy and table she used to attend entrepreneurship fairs after the fire.
“Since the fire, I haven’t been able to participate in any fairs, and that’s where most of my sales come from. I’m part of a group where we sell with municipal permission on busy streets in Viña del Mar, so my business expands and becomes visible. I’m happy to be able to resume the fairs, especially because Mother’s Day is coming up, which is an important date for my business,” says Edith, who also sells her creations through her Instagram @noelanas.
In addition to supporting entrepreneurs, the Luksic Foundation made a contribution to the Viña del Mar Fire Department to address an immediate need at the station by providing them with high-complexity uniforms. They also coordinated the delivery of an Operations Center with the Municipality of Viña del Mar and distributed over 1,000 kits to students from 33 affected schools.
