More than 290 Peruvian women and adolescents improved their financial management skills and reinforced their financial independence

Lima- A total of 338 vulnerable people, including 295 women, were trained to manage their financial resources efficiently. Out of the total number of participants, 24 are adolescent survivors of trafficking from the cities of Cusco and Puno.

As part of the certification process, the eight new trainers in the ILO's Financial Education methodology delivered specialized training to adult and adolescent women to help them learn how to plan a budget, explore savings alternatives, request loans for a business project, manage credits, and avoid the dangers of over-indebtedness, among other things.

The Financial Education training aims at improving decision-making with regard to money management, empowering women in financial management and promoting gender equality. The lack of financial literacy limits their opportunities to increase their income or find better job opportunities and increases the risk of falling into a cycle of over-indebtedness.

Furthermore, for adolescent and young survivors of trafficking, financial education helps them develop the necessary skills to achieve financial independence after aging out of shelters and care centers. This will increase their chances of finding a decent job, free from abuse and exploitation.

“Our adolescents learned how to manage their limited financial resources. Two of them are developing a pastry and bakery business, and the training has allowed them to apply the lessons learned to successfully manage their income

said Silvia Porroa Gudiel, education specialist at the "Tikarisunchis" Specialized Shelter (CARE) for Trafficking Survivors in Cusco

In turn, Débora Díaz, a community psychologist and specialist in financial independence at the Emergency Center for Women (CEM) in San Martín de Porres, said that the course has improved her capacity to help women at risk of violence.

“This experience has been life-changing because I am convinced that learning about financial education will help many women to make better decisions about their financial resources and will empower them to succeed in life

community psychologist and specialist in financial independence at the Emergency Center for Women (CEM) in San Martin de Porres

Eight professionals delivered the course by themselves in Cusco, Lima and Puno and were certified as trainers in Financial Education by the ILO, after going through an intense evaluation by Gustavo Prepelitchi, ILO's international consultant.

The newly certified trainers are:

• Milagros Cavero, from the NGO Alternativa
• Máxima Chique, from the Trafficking Specialized CARE “Rijchariy” in Puno
• Débora Díaz, from the Emergency Center for Women in San Martín de Porres
• Ana Mejía, from the NGO Alternativa
• Ketty Oliveros, from the NGO Alternativa
• Silvia Porroa, from the Trafficking Specialized CARE “Tikarisunchis” in Cusco
• Jenny Trujillo, from the NGO CESAL
• Sergio Vigo, from the NGO CAPLAB

The evaluation methodology for the certification consisted of delivering demonstration classes, in which social leaders, entrepreneurs, community leaders and NGO representatives were trained in Financial Education. At the end of the sessions, the participants were awarded a certificate and made a commitment to disseminate what they learned in their communities and organizations. The certification granted by the ILO accredits the training, practical experience and quality performance achieved by the professionals. It validates their skills to train Financial Education to vulnerable people and other target audiences.

The Financial Education training is part of the comprehensive intervention strategy of the ILO's Program on the Economic Integration for Young Survivors of Trafficking in Persons and it is carried out within the framework of the project Partnerships in Action to End Child Trafficking in Peru.