In a vibrant artisanal cheese factory in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Guillermo has managed to transform his own life and the lives of other Venezuelan migrants through his passion for gastronomy. Every month, this electronic engineer with Bolivian roots produces over 1500 units of the traditional parrillero cheese, a Venezuelan product that has gained popularity and recognition among a growing customer base nationwide.
Guillermo, who left Caracas in 2017 due to security concerns, arrived in Bolivia with hopes of starting anew. “I had to reinvent myself,” he shares, reflecting on his early years in the country. After working in the technology sector, he decided to venture into cheese making during the pandemic, delving into a field he had previously been unfamiliar with. “I noticed that there were no Venezuelan cheeses in this area, so I started experimenting with different recipes,” he explains.
The business, Delicatessen El Ávila, not only has a commercial focus, but also aims to preserve his cultural and family heritage. Guillermo currently employs four fellow Venezuelan migrants, supporting his community while honoring his late mother, who was Bolivian.
Looking towards the future, Guillermo plans to expand his operations beyond Bolivia, aiming to provide more job opportunities for both locals and migrants. “Migrants bring valuable skills and strengths and should be seen as true human capital,” he asserts. His current production supplies numerous restaurants and supermarkets, as well as offering his products through an online delivery service.
Guillermo’s participation in FEXPOCRUZ, the largest International Trade Fair in South America, has opened new doors for his business. With the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Guillermo shared a booth with other migrant entrepreneurs, showcasing his parrillero cheese in various presentations. “IOM is proud to support migrant entrepreneurs like Guillermo,” says Pamela Fernández, from IOM in Bolivia, emphasizing the importance of the training they have received in areas such as marketing and financial management.
Guillermo’s production has almost doubled thanks to this exposure, and his message is clear: “Migrants are not a threat, but rather a valuable human capital for the communities that host us.” Guillermo has not only found a new home in Bolivia, but has also become a symbol of resilience and transformation for other migrants, demonstrating that with effort and determination, challenges can be turned into opportunities.
via: MiMub in Spanish