The Foundation began in 1983, a time in history when human existence on our planet was threatened by the possibility of a Nuclear Holocaust, which could be sparked at any moment by the international tensions of the Cold War. After contemplating this possibility, Dr. Lola Hoffmann was prompted to act. She did so by inviting a group of individuals from diverse fields to come together as a part of  “The Planetary Initiative for the World We Choose”, a global movement which attempted to link grass-roots organizations together to promote peace and coexistence in the face of the Cold War.

As part of this movement, regular meetings with dozens of participants were coordinated to discuss issues such as the arms race, environmental imbalance, hunger, and the prevalence of hate and violence above peace. While the project was short-lived on a global scale, the ideology behind the movement planted a seed in Chile which soon became “Casa de la Paz”.

At first, the efforts of “Casa de la Paz” focused on the issue of peace. In the 1990s, after the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the return of democracy to Latin America, the organization began to work to combat environmental issues.  Today, Casa de la Paz incorporates social and economic considerations in its practices as the organization takes on the complex issues of sustainability, environmental education and agreements between businesses, communities and the government.

Today, “Casa de la Paz” is recognized  as a public interest organization, founded in Chile in 1983 and legally constituted as a non-profit private foundation in 1992. While the foundation works on a nationwide scale, “Casa de la Paz” headquarters are located at Antonia López de Bello 80, Recoleta,Santiago.

 

CORPORATE OBJECTIVES

• Investigate and disseminate themes and values associated with peace and environmental protection.
• Propose methodologies, educational materials, training and technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of the different actors in participatory environmental management instances.
• Facilitate agreements linking citizens with each other and with other actors in sustainable development organizations.
• Promote social responsibility in accordance with the assumption that economic growth, social peace and environmental protection are mutually reinforcing fundamental pillars of sustainable development.

 

MISSION

Educate the public about the environment, and articulate agreements between the community, businesses and the government to promote sustainable coexistence with the environment, in a socially just and economically viable manner.

 

VISION

Contribute to sustainable development by encouraging different actors to take individual and collective responsibility in the preservation of our planet and the well-being of present and future generations.

 

VALUES

“Casa de la Paz” bases its work on responsibility, transparency, participation and collaboration. As a foundation, Casa de la Paz develops its work independently, by promoting dialogue, respect, diversity, and consistency.