Giuliana Gadea: "I Carry Everything Within Me"

4 days ago
3 min read

As part of our 10th anniversary campaign of Frauenalia, "10 Women, 10 Voices", today we present Giuliana Gadea. A woman who came to Germany young, transformed challenges into opportunities, and found freedom in entrepreneurship. Her story is a testament to resilience, color, and community.

From the Colors of Barranco to Berlin's Gray

Giuliana was born in Barranco, Lima, a neighborhood full of life, color, and joy. Her childhood was happy, without major worries, simply living in the moment. But everything changed in spring 1993, when her mother decided to emigrate to Germany.

"Here I found a gray city, buildings marked by a harsh history, and a feeling of heaviness," Giuliana recalls. The contrast was brutal: from Peruvian warmth to a new, cold world. However, her openness was key: "I didn't resist the change, I let myself integrate."

Surrounded by other migrants, she learned German quickly and formed her first community. She studied at the Studienkolleg Potsdam, where she not only mastered the language but understood German history and culture.

First Steps: Independence and Humanity

Her first jobs were humble but formative: childcare (where she learned German playfully), house cleaning, and waitressing. "That job meant independence. I supported myself while studying," she explains.

She learned to deal with all kinds of people, to observe without judging. "That stage made me more human," she says warmly. She traveled, grew, and built her path step by step.

The Journey That Changed Everything: Ayacucho

A breaking point came after a toxic work experience. She asked her partner for time and traveled alone to Peru. She journeyed from Lima to Ayacucho, where she saw a woman embroidering amid poverty.

"Where do you get that inspiration from?" she asked. The answer was revealing: "I carry everything within me." Giuliana realized she didn't need to look outside for what she already had inside. That was the beginning of everything.

Qoya: Peruvian Colors in Berlin

Back in Germany, Qoya was born, her first project: Peruvian handicrafts full of culture and meaning. The market wasn't ready ("too colorful," they said), but something had changed within her.

She no longer wanted to depend on others' jobs. She had experience, languages, and a need for freedom. She evolved into her own store: a unique space full of color and identity in a very German area.

"It was my creative temple. I could be myself without limits," she recalls proudly. People began to connect, and skeptical customers became loyal.

Pandemic, Closure, and Liberation

The pandemic brought unexpected growth: ready online base and masks she sold massively. But post-pandemic, the economy changed. She made the hardest decision: close the store.

"It was like closing a part of me. I felt sadness... but also clarity,"

she confesses. She freed herself from pressure and bureaucracy, works from home, learned to sew, and transformed her lifestyle. She continued with her business "Tulipas," running it online and participating in Berlin fairs, keeping her creative passion alive.

Frauenalia: The Compass on the Path

Amid doubts, Frauenalia arrived. "They came at the right time. They were my compass," says Giuliana. They provided practical guidance on the German system and, above all, community.

She met women on the same path. "That changes everything. Entrepreneurship isn't easy, but you don't have to do it alone."

Message for Migrant Women

Today, Giuliana advises: "Don't do it alone. Seek support and surround yourself with other women." If entrepreneurship doesn't work out, it's not failure: "It's a guide, a sincere teacher."

And a key reminder: not all women need to become entrepreneurs.

"That's fine. The important thing is to be true to yourself. But if you decide to do it... dare. Every fall gives you a unique strength."

Giuliana Gadea reminds us that true color is within. Her story is part of "10 Women, 10 Voices" for our 10 years.