Post-Fire Reconstruction: 199 Children in Punta de Parra Return to School Thanks to Modular Facility
The new facility, built in record time, features high construction standards, accessibility, and thermal insulation. It includes classrooms, a library, a covered courtyard, and administrative offices, among other amenities. The project was made possible through contributions from Banco de Chile, Fundación Luksic, Arcos Dorados (McDonald’s), Seigard, Fundación MC, Decathlon, and Entel.
In just 45 days, a modular school was constructed to allow 199 children from the town of Punta de Parra, Tomé, to resume their school year following the summer wildfires in the Biobío Region. The space was officially inaugurated on Friday, March 27, marking a milestone in the region’s recovery process and highlighting the impact of public-private collaboration in emergency contexts.
National and regional authorities attended the event, including the Minister of Social Development and Family, María Jesús Wulf, and representatives from Desafío Levantemos Chile. Elizabeth Carrera, the acting director of the Punta de Parra School, expressed her gratitude for the support received after the tragedy. “They gave us the opportunity to provide dignity and a safe zone for our children. Once again, we can offer our students emotional support and love, but above all, do what we do best: educate,” she stated.
Nicolás Birrell, President of Desafío Levantemos Chile, affirmed that “getting children back to class was not just a wish; it was an absolute priority.” He added, “Today we fulfilled our promise in record time. This infrastructure is proof that when the public and private sectors unite with will and efficiency, the impossible becomes reality. We aren’t just raising walls; we are restoring normalcy, joy, and dreams to a community that taught us the meaning of resilience after losing everything.”
This project carries deep emotional weight for the residents of Punta de Parra. The community had waited 10 years for their permanent school to be built, only to have it destroyed by fire after just two years of use. Therefore, the speed of this reconstruction—supported significantly by Fundación Luksic, which committed a donation of $520 million CLP—is vital for the families’ well-being.
“The future of Chile is decided in the classroom. Ensuring that the children of Punta de Parra can return to school after the summer fires is paramount, and we are very proud to have helped make this possible in record time. Our purpose is ‘to trust in order to drive forward,’ and today we say with conviction that we trust in the talent of this school’s teachers, the effort of their families, and the capabilities of their students,” said Macarena Cea, General Manager of Fundación Luksic.
The project encompasses 800 square meters of construction distributed across 55 high-standard modules, situated on a 1,250-square-meter plot. The infrastructure, featuring full accessibility and thermal insulation, will not only house 199 students but also provide a comprehensive community space for local families.
The inauguration was also attended by the Mayor of Tomé, Ítalo Cáceres, who expressed his emotion and gratitude for the project. “I want to thank Desafío Levantemos Chile, Banco de Chile, and all the companies that collaborated to build this infrastructure. This space embodies the effort, care, commitment, and professionalism of everyone involved in the construction of this school,” he emphasized.
