Interns of the COFO presented a theatre production in La Paz

"Santas Privadas" (Private Saints) is the name of the dance-theatre production presented by the women incarcerated in the Centro de Orientación Femenina de Obrajes (COFO) (Female Guidance Center in Obrajes) of La Paz, as part of the project "Pan de Libertad, empresa social que transforma vidas"(Bread of Freedom, social enterprise that changes lives), a social innovation initiative led by CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, and its strategic allies. The production is the result of a collective creation where theater becomes an unprecedented tool for rehabilitation and re-socialization. 

Ana Mercedes Botero, CAF's Social Innovation Director, pointed out, "The objective of this initiative is to contribute to the improvement of the life conditions of these women by strengthening their psycho-emotional health, which is an essential component that complements the intervention model that we have been implementing at the COFO, with the support of the penitentiary authorities, for the development of a social enterprise that balances productivity and wellbeing, and provides opportunities for the social and labor insertion of the incarcerated population". 

With respect to the problems faced daily by the incarcerated women, Botero states, "the loss of liberty generates a great deal of anxiety, and with these dynamics we hope they can express and discover emotional liberation, get motivated, recognize their capacities, and decide to move forward". 

"Santa Privadas" addresses the subject of a woman in a jailhouse, what she feels, and how she deals with being locked up, as well as her need for a second chance. Carol Espejo, Director of the Wayruru project, artistic group in charge of theatrical training at the COFO, stated, " The inmates wrote the play because they have something to offer and transmit as people who are deprived of their liberty. It questions the judicial and penitentiary system, as well as society, which many times points them out because of their condition as prisoners".  

The training process lasted six months, with more than 100 interns participating in the workshop. They received training in interpretation, body language, dance, and personal development. Espejo pointed out, "During the first stage, work was carried out to learn how to manage emotions, and how to know themselves internally to be able to interpret what they felt. Later, we incorporated bodywork through expression and dance. These emotions were more visible and became expressions with a structure. We also incorporated energy therapies, massage, and exercises to support the emotional issue". 

"Art freed us"

Five interns that are currently jailed in the COFO interpreted the play. These women expressed that being on stage was a unique experience, full of thoughts, pointing out, "We learned that liberty can also be felt inside us. Doing art liberated us". 

In this respect, one of the interns commented "I am 55 years old and dancing, acting and feeling the positive energy rejuvenated me. I am happy". Another participant said that in the play she was able to express the rage and impotence she feels for having to put up with some negative situations in jail. "I sometimes choke, and you do not know what to do. In the workshop I learned to vent my feelings and channel them in a good manner". 

Two of the younger and shier interpreters of "Santas Privadas" expressed that acting filled them with magic. One of them said "I was afraid, and although I don´t speak much in the play, I feel special when I dance".  

At the end of the play the interns express positive words with a sense of self-improvement. One of the actresses stated, "People think that because we are here (in jail) we are not useful, but the message is that despite everything, we can give more than they believe". 

Espejo states that she hopes in the future, overcoming the necessary red tape, the play may be presented in other jailhouses to motivate others who are also deprived of liberty. "The dream of the actresses is to present the play in a theater. We know that a lot of paperwork has to be handled to obtain the authorizations, but we have been supported by the penitentiary system, so we want to work the idea of taking the play out of the walls of the COFO".  

Bread of Freedom

"Bread of Freedom, social enterprise that changes lives" promotes a business model co-created by the interns at the COFO, aiming at social and productive insertion, as well as improving their life conditions. This social innovation project, promoted by CAF and its strategic allies, is based on a balance between productivity and wellbeing. It provides support for training, production, and marketing in the areas of bread making and knitting, as well as develops recreational programs and medical services in sexual, reproductive, and psycho emotional health. 

To date, 150 interns have received training in bread making, and 70 in knitting. Sixty already participate in the production of bread and pastries, and 35 in the production of knitted articles, including their design and development of prototypes. Family members of the interns as well as university volunteers integrate the marketing network. The project's participants suggested the brand OUT. They are grouped in the recently emerging Asociación de Mujeres de Acción productiva of the COFO (Productive Women's Association).

The project started two years ago from a business model co-created with the participation of COFO's interns. "Bread of Freedom" is a small company that generates economic benefits for the wellbeing of the interns, and aims at their social and labor insertion. 

The project has been promoted by CAF's Social Innovation Initiative, in alliance with the Asociación Semilla de vida (Sevida) (Seed of Life Association), Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz, Embassy of Germany, Asociación Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo en Acción (ENDA) (Environment and Development in Action Association), Fundación IES -Innovación de Empresariado Social (IES Foundation- Innovation of Social Entrepreneurship), Régimen Penitenciario de Bolivia (Penitentiary System of Bolivia), Universidad del Valle Bolivia-UNIVALLE, and Universidad de Aquino Bolivia-UDABOL.