©Nigel Wright
October 30th 2016
Within the scope of the project Somos Tesoro, the Alliance for Responsible Mining was able to invite, four Colombian miners from Antioquia and Boyacáto visit gold mines in Peru. The aim of the visit was to exchange experiences about good practices in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and to, learn how to overcome challenges related to formalization and the elimination of child labour in mining.
On September 27th 2016 the miners visited the MACDESA cooperative. After following the security routine, the Colombian miners entered the mines and learned about the mine’s history and its mining practices. They found out that becoming a cooperative was not easy but it was essential for MACDESA’s success that the miners united and formed a cooperative. Additionally, they learned about how short daily trainings for the miners can be a good practice, the importance of security measures in and outside the mine, the importance of permanent use of personal protection gear and equipping the shelters inside the mines with first aid kits.
On September 28th, the miners visited the cooperative FIDAMI where they were welcomed by the directors. During the experience exchange activity, the visitors learned -among other things – about the beginning of the association in 2007 and its development from 52 founders to 81 shareholders. The Colombian miners were pleased with the kindness of their Peruvian colleagues.
When SOTRAMI was visited on September 29th, several board members shared their story with the visitors. They talked about their experience and how they have overcome numerous difficulties, for example how to eliminated child labour in mining with the assistance of the ILO. Thanks to their accumulated knowledge gathered through working in this sector for years they are able to provide technical support to smaller and independent mines today.
Participants thanked meet and exchange best practices with their Peruvian counterparts and took valuable lessons. Back in Colombia, the miners will socialize and replicate these learnings and in this way contribute to the formalization of mining within their regions.