Investing in the future:
How education is creating
opportunities in the Haquira area

For many young people growing up in rural communities across Peru, the path after secondary school is often shaped more by circumstance than ambition. In communities such as Pararani and Lahuani, families work hard to support themselves through agriculture, livestock farming and seasonal employment. While many students aspire to continue their education, the financial realities of university or technical study can place those ambitions beyond reach. For Marco Antonio Andrade and María Elena Puma Ccoropuna, higher education was not guaranteed.

Marco, from the Pararani community, had excelled throughout secondary school, finishing first in his year. Like many young people in the area, however, his options after graduation would likely have been limited to supporting his family through farming or temporary work. The possibility of pursuing a university degree was far from certain. Today, he is studying Industrial Engineering at the Technological University of Peru in Arequipa, having received support through the Academic Excellence Scholarship programme.

María Elena’s story follows a similar theme. Growing up in Lahuani, she watched her family balance agriculture, seasonal work and the everyday challenges of rural life. University education represented an opportunity, but also a significant financial commitment. With support through the Higher Education Support Programme, she is now in her seventh semester of Civil Engineering studies at the Santa María Catholic University of Arequipa.

Although their stories are different, they share a common thread. Both students demonstrated the determination and ability to continue their education. What they needed was the opportunity to do so. Creating that opportunity is part of a wider commitment to education supported through the Haquira Exploration Project.

“Thanks to this support, I can better focus on my academic activities and take advantage of the opportunities provided by the university to achieve my professional goals.”

Marco Antonio Andrade Huamaní

Through initiatives such as the Academic Excellence Scholarship and the Higher Education Support Programme, First Quantum helps young people from local communities access university and technical education. Support covers key costs associated with studying away from home, helping students remain focused on their academic goals and reducing barriers that might otherwise prevent them from continuing their education. The impact extends well beyond individual students.

In Lahuani alone, 19 young people are currently pursuing higher education through universities and technical institutes. Each student represents not only a personal achievement, but also an investment in the future skills, knowledge and capabilities of their community. For students such as Marco and María Elena, obtaining a professional qualification opens the door to opportunities that previous generations often could not access. It creates the possibility of stable employment, higher incomes and greater economic security. For their families, these achievements represent years of sacrifice rewarded, a source of pride and the prospect of improved living standards.

The benefits are equally significant for local communities. As more young people gain qualifications and professional experience, communities develop stronger local capacity and a new generation of leaders, professionals and skilled workers who can contribute to their future development. This is why education remains a central focus of First Quantum’s approach to community investment.

Creating opportunities for young people is not simply about supporting students through university. It is about helping communities build their own future. By investing in education, First Quantum is supporting aspirations that might otherwise remain out of reach while helping to develop the skills and leadership that will contribute to long-term social and economic progress in the region.

The stories of Marco and María Elena demonstrate what can happen when hard-working people have access to opportunity. They are individual success stories, but they are also part of something larger: a continued commitment to ensuring that young people from local communities have the chance to pursue their ambitions, fulfil their potential and help shape the future of their communities.