INMATES OF THE LURIGANCHO PENITENTIARY MAKE “MILCO” FROM COLD PORCELAIN CLAY

Five designs of the Pan American Games official mascot, “Milco”, made by inmates of the Lurigancho penitentiary, were presented today by the president of the National Penitentiary Council, César Cárdenas Lizarbe, and the Commercial and Marketing Manager, Juan Antonio Silva Sologuren.

 In a press conference, the Lima 2019 Communications, Commercial and Marketing Manager, Juan Antonio Silva Sologuren, explained that the INPE and the sports event Organizing Committee signed an agreement to provide free use of the distinctive signs and the Milco mascot. “We have seen the quality of the work and the commitment of the inmates who are part of this project,” he added.

The President of the National Penitentiary Council, César Cárdenas Lizarbe, said that this project shows positive aspects of the inmates: the willingness to change, the rehabilitation process and the conviction of being part of the development of our society.

The five designs: the official mascot, Milco holding the torch, football, surf and volleyball, were made by twenty inmates and supervised by professionals of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) in the fulfillment of the necessary standards for INPE to obtain the porcelain fabrication license.

The work was made in the porcelain workshop of the “Cárceles Productivas” project held by the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE), and the process included different stages such as casting, polishing, burning, painting and packaging.

There are 3000 units of the 20 cm mascot, which were made from cold porcelain clay. They will be available at six venues of the Games: VIDENA, Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center, Chorrillos Military School, Miguel Grau Sports Center, Punta Rocas Beach and Army Equestrian School.