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FreeHands
FreeHands (or Manos con Libertad) is a cooperative of prisoners and ex-prisoners from the San Sebastián Women’s Prison in Cochabamba. Currently, about 15 prisoners and 15 ex-prisoners are members. Together, these women represent families with more than 50 children.
Many of the women at San Sebastián are trapped by terrible poverty and a cycle of ever-increasing debt and for reasons related to this are, or were, imprisoned. Through a partnership with FreeHands (a Latin Link ministry), the prisoners produce a range of hand-crafted goods. FreeHands aims to empower its members to enjoy a fresh start in life by learning a trade and earning a fair wage with which they can support their families. Furthermore, through this work FreeHands hopes that the women will not only break the bonds of debt, but will also reclaim a sense of dignity and self-worth for themselves and for their children. To be sure, this project is still in the early stages. However, you will be amazed at the quality and the variety of products these women are producing (click here)! Viva Bolivia supports FreeHands by providing their Web space www.vivabolivia.org/freehands and by assisting them with design, marketing and consulting services.
Currently, the FreeHands
team is working to find markets for their products in Europe and in
the United States. If you are interested in helping to facilitate
the sale and/or distribution of these types of goods, please contact us at:
projects@vivabolivia.org. |
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