In my time in Santiago, Chile with FIMA I have gained a different perspective of what it’s like to navigate environmental issues in a country that is reliant on primary production for economic survival. While there are certainly communities in the United States that have complicated or invested relationships with industry that are ultimately harmful to their own socio-environmental well being, the scope of such relationships and their national importance in Chile poses a distinct challenge for crafting thoughtful policy solutions. I was able to witness discourse and disagreements between different people in my office about the degree in which an environmental organization should be collaborating with mining corporations, the value of technological solutions in relation to structural change, and the role of local and national governance in regulating relationships to territory and resources. I saw leadership in this moment as being able to keep learning and challenging each other in the face of complex issues while still being able to move forward towards concrete solutions.

In my time at FIMA, I was also exposed to firsthand perspectives of communities impacted by this structural apparatus through my experience with communities like those in Chiloé, where I was able work with municipal leaders and learn from them the challenges implementing environmental regulations and potential clashes with both federal governmental laws and existing local economies reliant on the tourism industry. I also gained so much insight from conversations with my peers in the office, who always made time with me during our daily community lunches and even during their workdays to answer my questions and teach me about whatever they were working on. 

My experience, in many ways, went the way I expected – I planned to be challenged and grow by navigating an entirely different legal and political system in a non-native language and am proud of the growth I exhibited. While I hoped to make connections and learn from other FIMA employees, what surprised me the most was the community I was welcomed into with the kindness and open arms. I think there is so much to be learned from cultivating an office environment like that at FIMA, which is both very goal oriented but also prioritizes cultivating connection and care both inside and outside of the office; For example, talking about work is generally banned at lunchtime conversations and every major project is celebrated with a big group dinner party. I am so grateful for the opportunity to conduct my LIA at FIMA and hope I can return one day soon!