People first

In Conga, we are convinced that the social investment must be focused in a long-term vision. So, it is very important to work together with the development specialists and representatives of the populations to be close to the people, their families, custom and needs in order to recognise new alternatives to encourage the local and regional development.

With this in mind, we launched an important initiative: To set up the Alianza por el Desarrollo de Cajamarca y contra la Pobreza (The Alliance for the development of Cajamarca and reduction of Poverty). On February 11th, 2010 we subscribed with enthusiasm our Deed of Constitution. This Alliance involves habitants from 38 communities of the high Andes located in the border of the provinces of Cajamarca and Celendín. It is an inter-institutional platform composed of several collective efforts with a common goal: to seek sustainable development through innovative social, integrated and participatory projects that stir capabilities.

Thus, we can make individual and collective changes in the families of Conga, by improving their quality of life and reducing the poverty.

Who makes up the Alliance?

The heart of the Alliance is made up by 38 villages of the area of our Conga project. A number of public and private organizations and institutions specialized in sustainable development also takes part in this initiative. Such as:

• The villages of Agua Blanca, La Chorrera, Unigen lily, Unigen swarm Cruzpampa, El Tingo, Tablacucho, Faro Low, Santa Rosa de Huasmín (La Victoria), Huangashanga, Pampa Verde, El Alto No. 8 Chilac No. 8 Coñicorgue , Jerez, Shanipata, Quengorío Alto, Quengorío Bajo, El Tambo, Jadibamba Baja, alum, Namococha, Las Lagunas de Combayo, El Porvenir, Quinuapampa, El Valle, San Juan and Yerba Buena Yerba Buena Chica.
• The Regional Department of Health of Cajamarca.
• The Regional Management of Social development of Cajamarca.
• Minera Yanacocha - Conga Project.
• Los Andes de Cajamarca Association.
  
• PREDECI (Programa de Reducción de la Desnutrición Infantil).
• PRIE – IPAE – Empresarios por la Educación.
  
• Funder Perú.
• G y C.
• ADERS Perú.
• CEDEPAS Norte.
• Programa de Voluntariado de Minera Yanacocha.
• FONCREAGRO.
  

Different specialized institutions join the initiative of 38 communities from the Conga Project area in order to stop poverty and find the path to the sustainable development.

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Shilicos from Trujillo are well informed

People from Celendin who live in Trujillo city expressed their points of view about the Conga Project in the program Visión Informativa, Channel 33:

"The mining set up in Celendin is going to be an alternative of progress and improvement for our population. Investment is a sign of progress so I ask to all my fellow countrymen to support this project, because it will bring progress and opportunities to Celendin. We should stop being negative and start accepting our responsibilities to make progress".

Javier Camacho Sánchez

"The good mining based on concerted action brings positive results and provides resources to implement projects which benefit the areas of education, health and transport. We should not lose this opportunity. Those people who don´t share this view, must realize that there are places where mining and agricultural activities co-exist without predation and environmental contaminants which damage the ecology (…) By agreements and dialogues, we can solve several problems of the province, such as the 68% of infant malnutrition, illiteracy, lack of health centres. For solving these problems we need to get into an agreement with the authorities and mining companies", he explained.

Álvaro Bazán Cabellos

"This is a good opportunity. What we should do with buried richness which is useful for nobody? That is greedy! With a responsible mining we can have a great economical opportunity to build hospitals, schools and roads. For this reason, it is important that all the people from Celendin must support this project without being selfish which only causes damage to the progress. Conga officials as well as Celendin authorities, and the interested party too, must explain the project to those who don´t still believe in it".

José Bazán Silva

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5 classic prejudices

Our lack of knowledge of the current mining industry.

1. The mining industry on the head of the river basin leaves towns without water
• Every mine, by law, has to guarantee the same quantity of water which users used to have before. A mine with social responsibility will look after harvesting more water for its neighbors.

2. Mining pollutes
• The laws and regulations have changed drastically. In Peru, the state protects the environmental equilibrium. A modern mine: Instead of avoiding the environmental liability (alleviation), its technicians generate more environmental assets (reservoirs, laboratories of agriculture experimentation, new technologies for ecological monitoring, etc)

3. Mining companies avoid people participation
• It is impossible to start a mining project without the EIA’s approval by the Ministry.
Activities promoting citizen participation are essential for an EIA. Activities promoting citizen participation are essential for an EIA, so a company committed to its community visits villages, talks to popular leaders, provides information materials, among other activities.

4. EIAs are cooked from the beginning
• Once the Environmental Impact Assessment is approved, a set of standards must be fulfilled by the company in order to ensure an adequate social and environmental management. An EIA must satisfy the regulatory framework of our country.

5. Mining impoverishes people
• Poverty is a problem that Government must face up. Mining royalty generates public incomes. However, a company aware of this big challenge, invests in social programs to improve the life quality of the neighbors. Therefore, they can go beyond and promote projects fostering institutional strengthening.

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