Sergio Julio

Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to Sergio Julio Vilca Choque by Microfinanzas PRISMA in Peru. We are excited to watch this business grow. Over the next 6 - 12 months, Microfinanzas PRISMA will be collecting repayments from this entrepreneur and posting progress updates on the Kiva website.

Sergio and his family are putting in long hours to fulfill all of their Christmas orders. In addition to the ceramic piggy banks, they also produce ceramic figurines for nativity scenes very popular in Peru. The production of these is what causes the Christmas season to be so crucial and busy. Sergio used this loan to purchase clay and paint. He had hoped to purchase a clay mixer, but with the high demand before Christmas he had to purchase more materials instead. He hopes to invest in the clay mixer in January.

Sergio is still suffering from appendicitis, which he attributes to the long days he puts in. He begins working at 7:00 am and works until 2:00 am, in the crisp weather of Juliaca. His dedicated wife and family have truly demonstrated their love and respect for Sergio by taking control of the business and seeing that everything gets taken care of according to his high standards. This has allowed Sergio some time to rest and recuperate, and he is hoping for a full recovery.

Many businesses who produce figurines similar to Sergio’s sell them to a middle man who paints them. Sergio, however, takes great pride in creating every aspect of the figurines. He first mixes the clay and pours it into molds, which dry for a few days and are then ready to be fired. After firing, Sergio paints each intricate piece with care, and only after he is satisfied with the quality does he sell them. He has various sizes of figurines and piggy banks, and can sell the medium size for 140 Soles, about $45, per 1000. He has requests coming all the way from Bolivia for his work, and his goal is expand his client base throughout not only Peru but the neighboring countries as well.

Sergio’s family, although under a lot of stress and pressure due to Sergio’s illness, is clearly a loving and supportive family regardless of circumstance. Sergio’s five children, ages 17 to 1 ½, give him inspiration to get up each day and fight. His dream is to send each one to the university of their choice so they can study and become professionals and avoid the struggles he has had to endure.