Scholars return to their roots to share what they learned

Efraín Ticlla Alanya, an entrepreneur from the remote Quechua-speaking community of Comuhuillca in Peru, is returning to his roots to share his acquired knowledge. Comuhuillca, situated at 3,792 meters above sea level in the Huancavelica region, is a place where extreme poverty presents significant challenges.

Ticlla defied the odds, overcoming the barriers that typically prevent individuals from his community from achieving a better life. Instead of leaving, as many young people do, Ticlla developed a project involving the local farmers. He recognized education as the key to unlocking his dreams and those of his community.

"Seeing the difficulties my community faced, especially the injustice of selling their products like potatoes at prices that didn't even cover production costs, I understood that something had to change," Ticlla stated. This realization fueled his conviction to create a real solution.

With the support of the Beca 18 scholarship program, Ticlla studied International Business. This education provided him with the tools to establish Agrohuillca, a venture aimed at ensuring that the native potato varieties from his village are sold at fair prices. "Every step I take with Agrohuillca is a reminder of my roots, of the icy dawns, of the magnitude of the rains in the mountains, of the fields sown by hardworking hands, of my parents' hope, of the example I want to leave for my family, and above all, of what education can achieve when it becomes a real opportunity," he declared.

Ticlla's story is featured in 'Pronabec sí transforma vidas: 25 historias de éxito.' He emphasizes the importance of identity and roots, advising young people, "Never forget where you come from, and, above all, never forget the people from that place where you come from."