5) Description of initiative: Our main concern is to provide services such as legal, employment and Human Rights advice, not only to those deprived of their freedom but also to people that are free. Their families receive this benefit too. The monitoring of the respective processes enables the affected or interested parties to be aware of their new surroundings and to take responsibility for their new life. During group meetings, the participants receive guidance and, at the same time, this helps the entire group.

6) Description of innovation: Women have the opportunity to find jobs in which they are not questioned and no personal guarantees are demanded. This helps to create an environment of mutual trust. While they generate their own income and recognize that they are part of this process, it gives them encouragement to improve their living conditions. Most of these women have always been housewives.

7) Delivery model: The work is solitary. During the group meetings, the information is collated so that it makes it easier to resolve each person’s conflicts.

8) Key operational partnerships: The work that I have done with CEAPAS, ASHOKA, CARITAS has allowed me to strengthen our organization. Today the organization works independently and does not receive either private or public economic help. It is self- sustainable.

9) Financial model: The juridical activities in the prisons have helped to raise the awareness of the work that the organization does today. The organization is self-sustainable. Each person is remunerated according to their production. The marketing of the products is very important because that is what generates the source of work.

          • Costs as percentage of income: 100

          • Financing: As the raw materials and labor costs are very high, the income is low. It is important to say that the organization’s policy is to appreciate the labor costs by paying fair prices. The profits are used for office maintenance, trips at the end of the year with the family and to increase the raw materials. As the organization is self-sustainable, all of the profits are from the sales of the products made by the women. That is why it is important to consolidate national and international marketing niches. This will help the long term sustainability.

10) Effectiveness

          • Project outcomes: Our work was, is and will be successful. We have already helped more than 1,500 releases (since 1990). More than 500 people worked not only inside but also outside the prisons (since 1999).

          • Number of clients in past year: The number of beneficiaries this year is 118 (inside and outside prisons).

11) Scaling up strategy

          • Stage of the initiative: Scaling Up stage.

          • Expansion plan: Consolidating marketing niches, it is possible to consolidate sources of work. • To expand on the work done in other Departments.

12) Origin of the initiative: I was detained for political reasons in 1989. From this experience, I understood and became aware of the outrages, injustices and the malpractice of law. Seven months in prison gave me more solidarity vision and the incentive to try to improve the juridical support.

Contact Information:
Elvira  Alvarez
Ashoka Fellow
Emprendedora Social
Fundación Siglo XXI “Vida
(ONG)
Bolivia