Falabella marks 56 years of educational transformation in Chile
What: Falabella's Haciendo Escuela programme marks 56 years of transformative educational support, now reaching 78,000 students across Chile through strategic school-store partnerships.
Why it is important: The 2024 transformation, including partnership with Corporación Bien Público and focus on measurable outcomes, demonstrates how traditional CSR programmes can adapt to meet contemporary educational challenges.
Falabella's Haciendo Escuela Programme (PHE) celebrates 56 years of continuous educational support in Chile, evolving from a single partnership following the La Ligua earthquake to a comprehensive initiative benefiting 78,000 students. The programme operates through strategic partnerships between 49 Falabella stores and nearby schools, spanning from Arica to Punta Arenas. In 2024, PHE underwent a significant transformation to address learning challenges identified by national SIMCE testing, implementing five strategic pillars: literacy, mathematics, socioemotional skills, school leadership, and volunteerism. This restructuring, supported by Corporación Bien Público, yielded impressive results, with literacy levels improving by 28.6 percentage points and mathematics scores rising by 27.4 points. The programme extends beyond academic support to include higher education scholarships, financial literacy workshops, and leadership development initiatives, reflecting Falabella's comprehensive approach to educational enhancement.
IADS Notes: Recent developments highlight Falabella's expanding commitment to education and community development. In May 2025, the company reported that Haciendo Escuela now reaches more than 78,000 students , a significant increase from previous years. This expansion is supported by a substantial investment plan announced in December 2024 , demonstrating the company's long-term commitment to social impact. The programme's success has also influenced other initiatives, such as the February 2025 launch of an electronics trade-in programme strategically aligned with the back-to-school season , showing how educational support can be integrated with sustainable business practices.
