Chile is celebrated for its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and strong economic foundations, yet bridging educational gaps remains an important priority for communities across the nation. While Chile maintains low monetary poverty compared to regional averages, about 1 in 5 Chileans experiences multidimensional poverty—facing daily challenges in areas like job stability, healthcare access, or housing quality¹,². Nowhere is the desire for expanded opportunity clearer than in the classroom. There is currently a 69-point math gap on national exams, like the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), between students from high-income backgrounds and those in under-resourced public schools³. To make matters worse, severe weather and multi-year droughts regularly impact rural areas, leaving local schools to navigate rebuilding efforts on tight budgets⁴.
In the coastal Biobío Region, keeping schools safe and running is a constant struggle. Severe coastal storms recently damaged over 200 local schools across Biobío, placing heavy strain on a region where nearly 30 percent of schools are in isolated, hard-to-reach communities⁴. In towns like Tomé, under-funded schools often have to make do with whatever they have—forcing kids to learn inside old shipping containers that lack basic insulation, heat, or proper lighting. Without real classrooms, libraries, or science labs, students face huge hurdles when trying to study, explore new topics, and build confidence in their education.
This summer, HXP Builders are heading to Tomé to team up with local families and teachers to construct two brand-new, permanent learning spaces for a school serving nearly 70 students from preschool through eighth grade! Ninety-eight percent of these students come from highly vulnerable backgrounds, and nearly half have special educational needs or learning disabilities. Builders will help replace makeshift shipping container spaces by constructing a fully equipped science laboratory and a dedicated school library. The new library will feature study tables and accessible bookshelves, while the science lab will provide a safe space with real workbenches for hands-on experiments and garden projects. HXP Builders will help create an inspiring environment where local students can fall in love with learning and dream big for their futures.
Sources:
¹ World Bank & CASEN – Chile Multidimensional Poverty & Economic Vulnerability Assessment
² UNDP & UN Environment Programme – Socioeconomic Indicators & Climate Vulnerability in Chile
³ OECD PISA Performance Brief – Educational Equity & Socioeconomic Disparities in Chile