Mineral Sorters Association of Cuatro Horas

The Miner Sorters Association of Cuatro Horas is located in the town of Cuatro Horas in the Chaparra district, province of Caraveli, department of Arequipa, Perú. As a non-profit association, it is recognised in the public records of Camaná and belongs to the National Association of Artisanal Mining Women in Perú. Around 150 families depend on the organisation’s activities, both directly and indirectly.

The association was created in 2004 to generate income for local women through pallaqueo activities, collecting and sorting minerals and waste. There are currently 150 women working with the association as collectors and sorters of MACDESA’s discarded mineral to increase their earnings and family income and to ensure the basic maintenance of their children.

The women work in groups of 40 at two sites, every day for just three hours from 6am to 9am.  Their work is coordinated with the MACDESA Company, which authorises them under an agreement to access the hills where the sites are located.  The members can then sell the gold back to the company.

Under the association by-laws, women under 18 years old and those with small babies are not allowed to work, but there are separate activities to support women and elderly members who are in a critical situation.  The Directive Board is established on a two-year term with meetings taking place each month, and the General Assembly meeting every three months.

The MACDESA Company provides social support by supplying electricity, water and cable, paying teacher salaries and offering medical and obstetrician services at a very low cost.  The company also arranges the transportation and processing of the collected minerals.