Peruvian adolescent survivors of trafficking in persons are on their way to reach financial independence
More adolescents were trained in the ILO’s GET AHEAD methodology and are creating feasible business plans, which will allow them to have sustainable livelihoods.
11 May 2023
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Lima.- Lima.- Chocotejas, cupcakes, T-shirts, macrame bracelets, manicure and hairstyling were some of the products and services offered by the adolescents of the Specialized Shelter for Trafficking Victims “CARE Gracia” in the second Entrepreneurship Fair promoted by the National Comprehensive Program for Family Welfare (INABIF).
The adolescents who live in CARE Gracia show their skills as entrepreneurs in the second INABIF’s Entrepreneurship Fair, with technical assistance from the ILO. The adolescents were taught how to prepare business plans using the ILO’s GET AHEAD methodology, which aims to eliminate some of the obstacles faced by women who want to start and run a business. In total, 629 vulnerable people, such as people with disabilities, women from social organizations, migrants, young people, women running microbusinesses, and 93 trafficking victims have been trained in the GET AHEAD methodology
"At the beginning I was very nervous, but then I decide to give it a go and here I am,” said Luz Ángela, an adolescent who is also going to receive financing from American Airlines to take a course in textile printing techniques due to her solid business plan.
Tatiana, resident of CARE Gracia and Ángela’s partners in the customized T-shirt and bags business, truly believes that she will achieve many professional goals thanks to her new business.
The Minister of Women and Vulnerable Populations, Nancy Tolentino Gamarra, also participated in the event. “We have given a toolkit to all adolescents in the CARE, so they can walk towards financial independence. They have to believe that they can have their rights restored and that they are the main characters in their stories”. We should keep believing in our adolescents and giving them hope so they can build a life project free from violence. We can make a change,” stated the Minister.
In the closing ceremony, Gloria Palomino, coordinator of “CARE Gracia”, said that the participation in the fair allowed adolescents to experience an entrepreneurship culture, starting from business ideas and going through the process of preparing the business plans, to end with the creation of prototypes and presenting them in the fair. “What we are witnessing today is the result of all the effort made by the adolescents. Their families should feel proud of them,” said Palomino.
The fair is part of INABIF’s pilot program for the Economic Integration of Trafficking Survivors. It was organized by the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations (MIMP) with technical assistance from the ILO. In this edition, the adolescents’ business plans were financed by Oechsle Department Store, Intercorp Group, and the San Ignacio de Loyola University.
The GET AHEAD Trainers’ Network delivers the ILO’s business training to vulnerable women and men across the country, helping them build entrepreneurial skills The GET AHEAD Trainer’s Network is formed by professionals and officers from INABIF’s Specialized Shelters for Trafficking Victims (CARE), MIMP’s Directorate of Special Protection, Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion, Ministry of Education, Metropolitan Municipality of Lima, Provincial Municipality of Callao, Alternativa NGO, CESAL and CAPLAB. Some of these professionals participated in the fair and provided more information about entrepreneurship.
The Entrepreneurship Fair was carried out in the framework of the project Partnerships in Action to End Child Trafficking in Peru, implemented under the Child Protection Compact Partnership signed between the Governments of the United States of America and Peru.
The adolescents who live in CARE Gracia show their skills as entrepreneurs in the second INABIF’s Entrepreneurship Fair, with technical assistance from the ILO. The adolescents were taught how to prepare business plans using the ILO’s GET AHEAD methodology, which aims to eliminate some of the obstacles faced by women who want to start and run a business. In total, 629 vulnerable people, such as people with disabilities, women from social organizations, migrants, young people, women running microbusinesses, and 93 trafficking victims have been trained in the GET AHEAD methodology
“Thanks to the training, I was able to create my business plan on customized T-shirt design and printing.
Ángela, trafficking survivor
"At the beginning I was very nervous, but then I decide to give it a go and here I am,” said Luz Ángela, an adolescent who is also going to receive financing from American Airlines to take a course in textile printing techniques due to her solid business plan.
Tatiana, resident of CARE Gracia and Ángela’s partners in the customized T-shirt and bags business, truly believes that she will achieve many professional goals thanks to her new business.
“I decided to make customized bags because I like painting and arts. I expect that, thanks to this business, I will eventually study to become a psychologist, nurse or lawyer.
Tatiana, trafficking survivor
The Minister of Women and Vulnerable Populations, Nancy Tolentino Gamarra, also participated in the event. “We have given a toolkit to all adolescents in the CARE, so they can walk towards financial independence. They have to believe that they can have their rights restored and that they are the main characters in their stories”. We should keep believing in our adolescents and giving them hope so they can build a life project free from violence. We can make a change,” stated the Minister.
“We have given a toolkit to all adolescents in the CARE, so they can walk towards financial independence.
Nancy Tolentino Gamarra, Minister of Women and Vulnerable Populations
In the closing ceremony, Gloria Palomino, coordinator of “CARE Gracia”, said that the participation in the fair allowed adolescents to experience an entrepreneurship culture, starting from business ideas and going through the process of preparing the business plans, to end with the creation of prototypes and presenting them in the fair. “What we are witnessing today is the result of all the effort made by the adolescents. Their families should feel proud of them,” said Palomino.
The fair is part of INABIF’s pilot program for the Economic Integration of Trafficking Survivors. It was organized by the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations (MIMP) with technical assistance from the ILO. In this edition, the adolescents’ business plans were financed by Oechsle Department Store, Intercorp Group, and the San Ignacio de Loyola University.
GET AHEAD methodology: Gender and Entrepreneurship
The ILO has trained over 60 public officers and civil society professionals in Peru, who have become GET AHEAD methodology trainers. Today, more than 20 have an international certification and can deliver the GET AHEAD training and coaching sessions to vulnerable people, including trafficking survivors.The GET AHEAD Trainers’ Network delivers the ILO’s business training to vulnerable women and men across the country, helping them build entrepreneurial skills The GET AHEAD Trainer’s Network is formed by professionals and officers from INABIF’s Specialized Shelters for Trafficking Victims (CARE), MIMP’s Directorate of Special Protection, Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion, Ministry of Education, Metropolitan Municipality of Lima, Provincial Municipality of Callao, Alternativa NGO, CESAL and CAPLAB. Some of these professionals participated in the fair and provided more information about entrepreneurship.
The Entrepreneurship Fair was carried out in the framework of the project Partnerships in Action to End Child Trafficking in Peru, implemented under the Child Protection Compact Partnership signed between the Governments of the United States of America and Peru.