Giomara Chipana founds Emotiva mental health center

Giomara Chipana Asparrín, a recipient of the Beca 18 scholarship from Peru's National Program of Scholarships and Educational Credit (Pronabec), has founded Emotiva, a psychological center providing emotional support to vulnerable populations.

After studying psychology at Universidad Científica del Sur in Lima, Chipana identified a critical gap in the Peruvian mental health system, specifically the lack of accessible care for low-income families and public schools. The center has supported more than 25,000 families and currently employs approximately 25 people, including four Pronabec scholarship recipients.

Chipana's professional path was driven by her family's economic struggles and her mother's emphasis on education as a means to overcome poverty. The initiative aims to address the negative mental health impacts exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in underserved sectors.