Inside Mining: Passionate People
A reminder that there is good in this world
In a very remote mining town in Cerro San Pedro, central Mexico, SEF was partnering with New Gold Mining Company to support the smooth closure of a project. SEF was striving to create entrepreneurship that would extend past the closure through sustainable community means. The CSR team showed an eagerness and passionate resolve to come to the table and work alongside SEF on the ground on a daily basis, to create an SEF entrepreneurial development project that would benefit the whole community long after the mining ended.
It is what happened next that surprised SEF personnel. Through the story of Goat Man, as he was colloquially known, SEF personnel were not only encouraged to keep striving with the vital work already underway but to extend their imaginations with what can happen when partnered with committed, passionate and kind mining staff.
Driving through winding and desolate countryside, through dusty mountain passes and dry valleys, the SEF team led by the CSR team of Marc, Jose and Elvia, were encouraged to look out for the locals that would make up the community they were trying to partner with. Between trying to avoid the rattlesnakes and cliff edge bends, the team was told to keep an eye out for Goat Man, as he lived remotely in the valleys upon the hillside, isolated and removed.
Goat Man had at one time, owned and run a thriving business in the small town of Cerro San Pedro. After suffering significant upsets in his life, he had decided to leave his old life behind and simply raise goats in the desolate region in the hills. Locals and mining staff alike, particularly the CSR team, were perplexed as to how he had been able to survive.
One day Goat Man ended up with a bug deep in his ear. With countless scorpions and cockroaches around, it was a very concerning development. Goat Man became so aggravated by the creature in his ear he poured acid like substance into the ear canal. Coupled with his struggle with substance abuse, mental health challenges and now the toxic matter in his ear, the CSR team became significantly alarmed.
Springing into action the CSR team, upon seeing how much his ear had swelled up, took the time to gain his trust and hear the whole story, they rushed him to the hospital. Driving through windy, remote roads, over a great distance, the team persevered and got him to medical aid. While not able to save his ear, the treatment he received meant the bug was removed, and the acid could not do further damage, and importantly not take his life.
The CSR team had not been instructed to assist Goat Man. Through their own initiative and resolve they had prioritized the time and patience needed to gain his trust. They had decided to care for and support him as one of the community. Goat Man started producing cheese from his goats and was able to sell the product to local stores, making some money and trading for other items he needed to survive.
Incredibly the CSR team were able to step in again. As Goat Man started to flourish more, two sons who lived in the United States had reached out and wanted to reunite with their father. At one point it looked like they would not be able to get the paperwork to finally reunite and reconcile with their father but the CSR team was able to facilitate the processing of the paperwork to bring the family together.
After nearly two decades of a family scattered, Goat Man has been reunited with his sons, is receiving treatment and recovering from his substance abuse, managing his mental health well and has the damage from his ear established.
The outcome of Goat Man is the outcome of a team doing what’s right for the community. A commitment that is deep and goes far beyond headlines and tweets. The CSR team showed a resolve to support the people and see human lives completely altered for the better.
SEF too was able to facilitate the economic diversification that is integral to their sustainability plan for the responsible mine closure in Cerro San Pedro. The initial challenge SEF found was to discern the organic entrepreneurial activity and passion from the people that wished to be moved forward independent of mine closure. The CSR team and Goat Man were able to exhibit the core values of SEF, partnering to facilitate the growth of his local cheese producing business that led to economic growth for him and the local stores selling the product.
To this day Cerro San Pedro has an independent economy that continues to flourish well past the mine closure.
Join SEF in its work to see sustainable economic futures in partnership with mining and local voices.