Born: 4 June 1816, Chile
Died: 3 April 1891
Country most active: Spain
Also known as: Antonia Dorotea de Chopitea de Villota
Chile-born philanthropist and social worker Dorotea de Chopitea is considered the main benefactor and most important promoter of social work in 19th century Barcelona.
At age 16, Chopitea married Josep María Serra Muñoz, who would go on to co-found the Bank of Barcelona and the Maquinista Terrestre y Maritima, and serve as a consul to the Chilean government in Barcelona. The couple had six daughters between 1834 and 1845.
In the 1830s, Chopitea set out to support maginalised people and help educate working class youth, with the goal of reducing social conflict by improving living conditions. Building an extensive network of support services, she founded dozens of hospitals, residences, churches, schools and asylum rooms, where working mothers could leave their children, and workshops to teach young people trades. In her native Chile, she enabled the foundation of Salesian schools “Patrocinio de San Jose” and “Maria Auxiliadora” in Santiago and the so-called “Salesian Educational Center” in Talca.