Alumni Launch Innovative COVID-19 Projects Funded by the Santiago Center

Seven innovative projects led by Columbia alumni are currently being implemented or were recently completed in Chile, following a competitive alumni call for proposals launched in May 2020 by Columbia Global Centers | Santiago.

The projects were selected from 28 submissions and evaluated by members of the Santiago Center’s Advisory Board. Each initiative explores a different aspect of the COVID-19 crisis—ranging from early childhood education and mental health to gender, labor, and political response—offering locally grounded insights and solutions.

“The Santiago Center continues to bring relevant academic content and projects to the fore,” said Center Director Karen Poniachik. “We are in a unique position to tap into to our extended Columbia Alumni base—with all the insight, knowledge, and expertise they represent—to document this singular moment in time and review how it is affecting Chile, its people and its institutions.” 

Featured Projects

La Creatividad No Para, led by Paloma Estévez (SOA’19), highlights the creativity and resilience of four institutions responding to the pandemic:

• A high school in Arica broadcasting classes via local radio to reach students without internet access.
• Cocina País, a platform to donate healthy meals to frontline workers and vulnerable populations.
• Grupo Air, a clean air systems company that pivoted to develop public sanitization tunnels.
• Clothing manufacturer Monarch, which began producing copper-infused N95 face masks.

Promoting Young Children's Autonomous Learning, led by Alejandra Cortázar (TC’11), provides a Spanish-language online platform—Juega y Aprende Conmigo (“Play and Learn with Me”)—with games, downloadable apps, and parenting resources to support children aged 3–6 during at-home learning. The initiative is supported by the World Bank and CEPI (Center for Studies on Early Childhood).

Diosas de lo Íntimo, led by Ximena Vial (GSAS’16), is an audiovisual project that captures intimate portraits of Chilean women navigating confinement. The preview includes stories of:

• Esther, who preserves family tradition through cooking; and
• Ziomara, a determined basketball player overcoming barriers to achieve her goals.
  A “making-of” video and additional stories will be released soon.

Covid’s Impact on the Labor Market, Fueled by Automation, by Pablo Egaña del Sol (GSAS’16), explores how COVID-19 may accelerate automation in Chilean industries. The study finds that 13% of women and 21% of men in the labor force are at high risk of automation, with significant variation across regions and sectors.

The Politics of Coronavirus in Chile, by José Miguel Cabezas (GSAS’12) analyzes the impact of political messaging on public mobility between March and June 2020, showing how government policies can either curb or encourage individual movement during a health crisis.

Comparison of Educational Initiatives in Campamentos in the Context of Covid-19, led by Valeria Moraga (SIPA’19), compares two interventions—internet access and remote tutoring—and their impact on mental health and educational outcomes for children living in informal settlements.

Understanding the Impact of Social Distancing Measures and Quarantine on Vulnerable Families with Pre-School Children, by Carmen Le Foulon (GSAS’14), analyzes how various distancing measures have affected Chile’s most vulnerable families with young children. (Note: Fieldwork is ongoing.)

*These projects were selected from a competitive alumni call for proposals. Read the announcement here.