During the whole month of August, our Mouseum will put on display silver and copper trays and an ashtray, special presents from Centros de Madres (Mothers’ Centers) and Juntas de Vecinos (Neighborhood Residents’ Committees) representatives, to Eduardo Frei Montalva, in gratitude for the creation of such organizations, 42 years ago.Casa Museo Eduardo Frei Montalva displays these objects – never before exhibited – so as to remember the publication of the law on “Neighborhood Residents’ Comittees and other Community-based Organizations” on August 7th, 1968, which gave legal protection to one of the major social reforms of the Revolution in Liberty, the named “Promoción Popular”.

That program was one of the Eduardo Frei Montalva’s administration pivotal points. It was based on the conviction that the people, being trained and organized, integrates itself with the general development of the country, thus taking part in the solution of their own problems: “Our aim consists not only in an economical development, but in a social development… this incorporation of the ordinary man through the organizations he takes part in, is what we have called Promoción Popular,” affirmed the former President in December, 1964, as he made public the bases of his program.

After four years, the announced proposal became a law, clearing the way for more direct and inclusive people-State relations. From that point on, the neighborhoods, unions, municipalities, Neighborhood Residents’ Comittees, Centros de Madres, federations, etc. were able to fully exercise their rights through a systematic collaboration with the public sector, which led to a progressive increase in their material standard of living, as well as in their sense of community. For instance, for street paving and street lighting, the people collaborated providing a workforce – and materials, occasionally –, while the State provided the materials the organizations could not.

Ashtray, special presents to Eduardo Frei M.

Likewise, neighborhood leaders were trained, in order to make their relations with the authorities smoother, and women – members of Centros de Madres – were taught new trades to increase their family incomes. In this way, society began to engage in its own development and well-being.

We invite you to appreciate these original objects throughout the month. Even though they are not part of Casa Museo Eduardo Frei Montalva’s permanent collection, we consider it important to exhibit these objects in memory and gratitude of Eduardo Frei Montalva for a substantial positive step in the social organization of our country.

Visitation is Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Hindenburg Street 683, Providencia.

Tel.: (02) 881 86 74 – (02) 723 41 05

E-mail: contacto@casamuseoeduardofrei.cl