More than 1550 child trafficking survivors and vulnerable people boosted their economic independence

Lima – More than 1550 vulnerable people have improved their skills to start their own business and manage their personal finance, thanks to the efforts of the National Network of Trainers in Financial Education, Gender and Entrepreneurship.

That network, established with the technical support from the ILO, gathered today to plan the actions to be developed in 2025, in order to keep promoting the economic independence among trafficking survivors and vulnerable populations.

When Carolina was a child trafficking victim, she came to the Shelter where I work. She hardly ever spoke to anyone there. After some time, little by little, thanks to the Financial Education, GET Ahead, and productive workshops, everything changed: she developed a set of personal and business skills, and today she is the manager of her own small business,” said Silvia Porroa, educator and member of the Network.

A total of 35 public officers, certified in the methodologies of Financial Education, and Gender and Entrepreneurship Together (GET Ahead), are part of this network of professionals from different areas, who work at the Specialized Trafficking Shelters of the National Comprehensive Program for Family Welfare (INABIF), from the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations, the Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion and the Ministry of Education, as well as municipalities and NGOs.

“The work that you have been doing is essential to offer more protection to trafficking survivors and lower their risk of becoming victims of exploitation again, because it helps them build competencies that are necessary to get a decent job in the future”, acknowledged Virginia Rose Lozada, specialist in Cooperative Businesses and Rural Development from the ILO Office for the Andean Countries.

Elba Espinoza, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations, algo congratulated the professionals who are members of the Network and encouraged them to keep up the good work.

Your work changes lives. The economic independence of the women who receive this training is essential to reach equality,” stated the Vice Minister.

The work of the Network is part of the pilot plan for the Economic Integration of Young Trafficking Survivors, implemented by INABIF and the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations, with technical assistance from the ILO, framed within the Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership, signed between the Governments of USA and Peru.

Jessica Melina Ruiz Atau, Executive Director of INABIF, committed herself to support the actions to achieve the sustainability of the pilot, which is producing great results.