Between Transformation and Depoliticization. The Role of Philanthropic Foundations in Chilean Environmental Education

Abstract

This article analyzes the approaches and practices developed by philanthropic foundations regarding environmental education in Chile. Using an interdisciplinary approach that combines research on environmental sciences, educational policies, and social intervention, and employing a qualitative methodological approach that combines semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis, the article analyzes the characteristics and approaches of the set of environmental education interventions developed by philanthropic foundations in the country, but with a focus on two iconic programs: the “Escuela del Bosque” program (developed by the CMPC Foundation) and the “Naturalizar” program (developed by the Ilumina Foundation). The results show the existence of different forms of relationship between the foundations and the State, with complementarity (rather than competition) being the predominant form of relationship. Likewise, philanthropic interventions are shaped by the organizational characteristics of the foundations, with the mission of corporate foundations and the family seal being central. Finally, although the predominant pedagogical approaches are heterogeneous, naturalistic tendencies prevail with different nuances depending on the programmatic proposal. Although the initiatives analyzed promote valuable learning about nature, the absence of critical approaches, aligned with technocratic logics, generates tensions between depoliticization and the search for socio-environmental transformation.