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Migrants and refugees making headlines in Peru

Promoting entrepreneurship and community

July 24^th, 2024

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“We saw an opportunity in hairstyling. Curly hair often leads to self-rejection. So we decided to specialize in curl recovery,” said Javier.

He left Venezuela for Peru in 2015 with his partner Francisco. They were searching for economic stability. Now they run Patrón, a beauty business in the capital, Lima.

“We bought our first pair of scissors while selling empanadas on the street,” said Francisco.

They built up their business through word of mouth.

“I discovered Francisco's talent during the pandemic. He cut my daughter's hair and now he does the whole family. More than his nationality, I see a friend,” said Analís, a customer.

Supported by UNDP, CREANDO connects the private and public sector with refugees, migrants and local communities. Photo: UNDP Peru

Things took off when a client connected them with CREANDO an online platform promoting entrepreneurship among migrants and refugees. Supported by UNDP, CREANDO connects the private and public sector with refugees, migrants and local communities. The aim is to strengthen the welcoming process through learning and empathy.

Participants share advice on regulations, financial management, marketing and networking.

“The networks have been fundamental for our growth and the improvement of our services. We learned about the steps for regularization, which gave us much more peace of mind to continue developing," says Javier.

Migrants and refugees making headlines in Peru

Venezuelan chicha comes to Lima

Rinconcito Venezolano Café is crowded with Peruvian and Venezuelan customers sharing a coffee or Venezuelan chicha, a sweet and creamy traditional rice drink. The café is decorated with images of Churún Meru, the world’s tallest waterfall, formerly known in English as Angel Falls, the Indigenous Yanomami people of the Amazon, and other famous Venezuelan places. With the immigration offices nearby, some of Venezuelans are celebrating the completion of their migration applications.

The business is run by Dayana and José Rojas.

“My parents are Peruvian. They migrated to Venezuela in the 1990s,” said Dayana.

Years later, Dayana and José returned to Peru during the exodus caused by the generalized crisis in Venezuela.

The couple start work at 7.00 am, buying ingredients for the day.

"We work with Peruvian suppliers. We also know many Peruvian-Venezuelan food businesses led by Peruvians. We all support and protect each other,” said José.

Dayana and José Rojas run a Venezuelan cafe in Peru's capital, Lima. Photo: UNDP Peru

The capital Lima has the largest Venezuelan diaspora. While many districts lack planning and support for migrants and refugees, other municipalities are working to integrate them into business development.

Dayana and José found out about CREANDO through the municipality-run entrepreneurship fairs.

“Joining the community has given me new ideas to sell my products online, as well as connect with private organizations and workshops organized by municipalities,” said Rojas.

“Half of the participants in our activities are Venezuelans. Many of them work in the crafts, food and transport. Their neighbours see the contribution they make,” said Eduar Bautista, Coordinator of the Economic Development Management of the Municipality of San Martín de Porres.

Mental health challenges for migrants and refugees

According to the National Survey of the Venezuelan Population, 82 percent of migrants and refugees are working or actively looking for a job. The Refugee and Migrant Working Group, says more than 214,000 regularization requests were submitted in 2023.

However, significant challenges remain for the integration of these young and qualified people. A recent survey reports about 30 percent of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Peru experience discrimination.

Worries about work and money affect the mental health of refugees and migrants and the education opportunities of their children. Migrant women can experience harassment and their caregiving tasks limit their economic integration.

“It is hard for families to support their children and improve the care and attention they give them. To help, we hold free advice sessions with Infomamis," said Jehiveh, a psychologist from Venezuela.

Infomamis supports maternal and child wellbeing for Venezuelan and Peruvian families. Photo: UNDP Peru

With her colleague Francelys, also from Venezuela, she set up Infomamis - a project aimed at supporting maternal and child wellbeing for Venezuelan and Peruvian families.

Migrants and refugees struggle to pay processing fees to have qualifications recognized. "When we arrived in Lima in 2017, creating a network of contacts and having my degree officially recognised was the first challenge,” said Jehiveh. "I came to Peru with minimal capital, so I worked in unfamiliar fields. Thanks to that, I had the resources to start the validation process," said Francelys.

Once their qualifications were recognized, the psychologists launched Infomamis. They provide psychological and occupational therapy and help for families with special needs, among other things. "Thanks to CREANDO, we have subscribed to our business on the Talento Migrante Map, which has helped families find us easily online," said Jehiveh.

Human connections that drive prosperity

Since 2022, the CREANDO learning community has supported 200 migrant and refugee businesses and enterprises. Fostering the economic integration of migrant and refugee people through connections with their Peruvian peers is crucial for their business ventures and quality of life. Only by facilitating access to opportunities and fostering mutual respect can the full potential of these communities be realized, contributing to the overall prosperity of the society they have joined.