Maipú is Chile’s second most populous commune and has experienced significant demographic change over the past decade, driven in part by a growing migrant population. According to the 2024 Census, over 30,000 foreign residents live in the commune, representing an increase of more than 137 percent since 2017. Venezuelans, Colombians, and Haitians make up the largest migrant communities, with many migrant families settling, raising families, and building long-term lives in the city.
As migrant families put down roots, they continue to face barriers to immigration regularization, access to social services, and employment, alongside psychosocial challenges such as migratory grief and acculturation. These challenges are particularly relevant for children and adolescents, affecting their adaptation to school, wellbeing, and sense of belonging. Building on Maipú’s City 2030 plan’s focus on sport, Running Without Borders responds to these needs by bringing running activities to schools and municipal sports facilities. Track and field allows for individual participation within a supportive group environment, fostering both self-confidence and a sense of community. With over 1,600 foreign students across 15 municipal schools, educational facilities also provide an important entry point to foster intercultural exchange and inclusion among migrants, local children and their families.
