Modern Transformation for School Garden from STI and Mi Parque Foundation in Chile

San Antonio International Terminal (STI), operating in San Antonio, Chile, successfully completed a project to modernize the garden of Juan Dante Parraguez High School in collaboration with the Mi Parque Foundation. This comprehensive work, which took approximately four months, was shaped according to the needs of the local educational community, adopting a participatory approach. The project's closing event was held with an intensive volunteer day, bringing together STI employees, school students, teachers, and the Mi Parque Foundation team. As part of the event, participants planted trees and approximately four hundred different plant species in the garden. This greening effort aimed to both increase environmental beauty and provide students with an educational environment in touch with nature.

The renovated garden incorporates many new amenities that will significantly improve the daily lives of students. Within the scope of the project, various recreation and social activity areas were created, such as an outdoor amphitheater-style classroom, picnic areas, ping pong tables, and play groups. Additionally, shade structures were added for sun protection, and new green spaces specifically designed for the use of students and school staff were brought to life. This comprehensive transformation turned a central area of the school into a modern and multipurpose living space. Acting in line with the ideas of students and educators during the design process ensured that the resulting space responded to the actual needs of its users.

Andrés Albertini, general manager of STI, emphasized the importance of this work for the future of the region. Stating that the future of San Antonio lies in its children and youth, Albertini expressed the company's great pleasure in contributing to young people growing up in better spaces. He also reminded that as STI, they had previously renovated various squares in the municipality and created funds supporting the projects of social organizations. Albertini, who also congratulated the high school principal Irene Alvarez for her extraordinary work for the school, stated that thanks to this new garden, students can learn and enjoy themselves by forming a better connection with their surroundings.

School principal Irene Alvarez, on the other hand, drew attention to the profound meaning the project holds for the educational community. Noting that the new arrangement greatly facilitated school life and social interaction, Alvarez emphasized that the newly created environment is more comfortable and functional. She stated that this space has transformed into a vibrant hub supporting outdoor learning experiences, rather than just being a garden. She mentioned that particularly involving the opinions of students and teachers during the design phase strengthened the sense of belonging to the space. Alvarez added that they are very proud to see the results of this process where the community realized its own visions.

María José Sáez, Project Coordinator of the Mi Parque Foundation, stated that the most important component of the project was its participatory design approach. Sáez noted that involving the local community in decision-making processes and subsequently in the construction phase is critical for the sustainability of spaces. She emphasized that spaces shaped by the community according to their own needs are more widely adopted and carefully preserved. With the volunteer day concluding with an official opening and celebration among participants, the new garden was made available to over 400 students and educational staff. Such local collaborations stand out as promising examples to strengthen Chile's educational infrastructure and increase social solidarity.