(c) ARM
The year-long project “A model of responsible artisanal and small-scale mining in Honduras” is now underway, being implemented by the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) in Macuelizo, Honduras, thanks to the support of the Lundin Foundation and in partnership with the UNDP. This will be ARM’s first project in Honduras, as part of the organization’s desire to expand its geographic reach in order to be able to impact more artisanal and small-scale miners.
ARM will be working in collaboration with Minas y Cuevas, a company formed by 307 partners from 7 communities in the area. A Canadian company handed over to them the mining title so that these communities could benefit from the mining operation.
In support of this development initiative in the region, ARM has been holding community meetings since September to present and discuss the project. Among the project objectives are to implement sustainable community development practices; to improve economic, social, and environmental practices; to facilitate product export to international buyers; and to direct efforts for Minas y Cuevas to become certified under the Fairmined Standard.
To achieve these positive results during the first project phase, ARM has prioritized understanding the local mining context, by conducting geological surveys, gathering structural data, and taking samples. Another equally important aspect for the organization has been making contact with the project beneficiaries, and so visits and meetings have been held with each and every local community involved. ARM has also led activities to help the mining partners begin to work together in an organized manner, which have included exploration of geographic sites; inductions in mining operation, mining safety, and the environment; training on mineral extraction; and guidance on purchasing mining tools and personal protective equipment. On October 4, the community members organized a Eucharist in the mining area to inaugurate this process.
Additionally, ARM has assisted Minas y Cuevas partners in the processes of drafting their company regulations and internal work regulations. The actual extraction process kicked off the last week of October, with 14 participants (two from each community) participating. Care was taken to safely and properly perform the job and to improve the working conditions for partners, whom had previously worked under precarious conditions and exposed to preventable dangers.