(UPM, 29 September 2015 at 15:00 EET) – The UPM
Foundation promotes education and entrepreneurship through joint work with
social organisations and local representatives in Uruguay. It annually publishes
a report presenting its objectives, operations and latest achievements.
“We are seeking to promote the long-term
development and growth of these communities in cooperation with local
stakeholders in rural areas. Our work is carried out in collaboration with
social organisations, public institutions, departmental and national authorities
and other social agencies,” says Magdalena Ibanez, Manager of
UPM Foundation.
Established in 2006, the foundation’s mission
is to bring together local stakeholders, communities and authorities especially
in the fields of education and training in the departments where UPM is
active.
“In rural Uruguay, some children finish school
as early as age 12, which makes it difficult for them to enter professions that
require special training. Through the UPM Foundation, we have been able to
extend their schooling and thus improve their employment prospects in the
future,” says Ibanez.
Thanks to the UPM Foundation’s work, the remote
community of Clara, Tacuarembó, saw its first generation of young people
complete their secondary education in December 2014. The aim of this
public-private educational programme is to provide high-quality post-primary
education throughout the region.
The Integrated Programme for Strengthening
Rural Schools being implemented in all rural schools in Río Negro completed its
second year in 2014. The programme updates traditional approaches to education,
promoting more in-depth research and participation among both teachers and
pupils.
The construction of a community orchard in the
rural school of Queguayar has increased the variety to food with locally
produced vegetables. The orchard also serves as an excellent teaching resource,
bringing together families and school to work for their town.
“The UPM Foundation sees community development
as starting with the advancement of individual and collective capacities,
abilities and skills. The actions we carry out always focus on the long-term
effect and the well-being of our reference communities,” states Ibanez.
In addition to its numerous projects, the
Foundation last year organized open lectures and community workshops with local
representatives, presented its operations in a photo exhibition and organised a
visit for community leaders at the UPM Fray Bentos mill.
Altogether over 308,000 people have
participated in the UPM Foundation programmes in eight departments and more than
90 communities in Uruguay since it was founded.
For more information:
Magdalena Ibanez, Manager, UPM Foundation, tel. +598 9900
3828
Read more about the UPM Foundation’s work and projects in the latest annual report http://user-fudicvo.cld.bz/Annual-Report-2014
Watch the video on how the Clara project has impacted the lives of the young people in the rural community >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iM19NAR0f4A
Follow Fundación UPM on Facebook in Spanish: https://www.facebook.com/FundacionUPMUY?fref=ts
UPM in Uruguay
UPM’s
operations in Uruguay include the Fray Bentos pulp mill, the UPM Forestal
Oriental forestry and wood sourcing company and its two nurseries, as well as
the UPM Foundation, which works in cooperation with local organizations to
contribute to education, entrepreneurship and improving quality of life through
projects focusing on the rural areas where the company operates.
UPM Forestal Oriental owns 230,000 hectares of land, of which about 60% is planted with eucalyptus. The rest of the land is protected or used for forestry-related infrastructure, such as cattle grazing and other non-plantation operations. All of UPM’s forest plantations are certified to FSC® and PEFCTM standards.
The Fray Bentos pulp mill started operations in 2007 and remains one of the world’s most modern and efficient pulp mills. Its annual production capacity is 1.3 million tonnes of chemical eucalyptus pulp. Besides pulp, the Fray Bentos mill is a significant biomass-based energy producer, its electricity production accounting for 11% of Uruguay’s total energy production. The mill’s wood raw material comes from sustainably managed local plantations.
In Uruguay, UPM has 550 direct employees and the company indirectly employs around 3,400 people. UPM Uruguay’s value chain creates altogether 6,400 jobs and its contribution to Uruguay’s GDP is approximately 1.3%. www.upm.com/uy
UPM Pulp
UPM is one of
the world’s leading producers of northern softwood, birch and eucalyptus pulp,
supplying global customers in a variety of end use segments such as tissue,
specialty papers, board as well as printing and writing through its own sales
and service network. UPM operates four modern pulp mills, three in Finland and
one in Uruguay as well as eucalyptus plantations in Uruguay. UPM Pulp employs
approximately 1,500 people and has an annual pulp production capacity of 3.5
million tonnes. The Pulp Business is part of the UPM Biorefining Business Area.
To learn more, please visit: www.upmpulp.com
UPM
Through the
integration of the bio and forest industries, UPM is building a sustainable
future across six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM
Paper Asia, UPM Paper Europe and North America and UPM Plywood. Our products are
made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. We serve our customers
worldwide. The group employs around 20,000 people and its annual sales are
approximately €10 billion. UPM shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. UPM –
The Biofore Company – www.upm.com