About
History
Located in Pirque, this property once belonged to the governer of the Kingdom of Chile, Don Rodrigo de Quiroga who arrived with Pedro de Valdivia (founder of Santiago) and who was married to Doña Inés de Suarez (first Spanish woman to arrive to Chile). His descendants built the house dating from 1883. One of the owners Hernán Prieto Subercaseaux founded the borough of Pirque in the valley of Maipo famous for its quality wines.
Thanks to many donations Villa Virginia belongs to Fundación Origen wich is dedicated to funding the education of young people and adults.
Fundación Origen
Hotel Villa Virginia is one of the 9 enterprises that Fundación Origen has developed as part of its program.
Fundación Origen is a non-profit institution whose mission is to improve the quality of education, job training for youth and adults and for promoting sustainable community development from a holistic perspective. Spirituality, autonomy and accountability are the foundation of this program.
In 1991, Fundación Origen developed an educational model aimed at high-risk youth Escuela Agroecologica del Pirque (EAP) wich provided unique results in Chile. The mission of the EAP is to provide a comprehensive education to more than 480 socially vulnerable young people in secondary education and also to obtain a title inTechnical Agriculture. This is recognized by the Ministry of Education of Chile, therefore, they can be incorporated into the work world or continue their schooling through higher education.
In the Escuela Agroecologica de Pirque we have opted for organic farm training and agro tourism as an efficient means to develop the interests of our students by providing a better quality of life for, youths and their families and by encouraging these and social entrepreneurship.
Along with the Hotel Villa Virginia, the Foundation produces organic vegetables, eggs, cheese, honey and their derivatives, bread and pastries and other products. It also has the Centro de Estudios Origen ,wich does trainings and workshops on organic agriculture, and Leadership for Peace and Tolerance young teachers and the general public.
These enterprises provide funds for free education for the young people attending the school, making the organization self - sustainable..
Visit Fundación Origen’s website for more information.
