Sports clothing factory to set up inside women’s prison in Ecuador
18/01/2013
Women in the prison, which is in the city of Loja in the south of Ecuador, have already set up their own bakery with the help of the same organisation, the Latin American Association of Businesswomen (AIME). The bakery now produces 1,800 loaves of bread a day for consumption by the 600 inmates, as well as for sale to customers outside the walls.
Now AIME president, Luz Acevedo, has suggested a sports clothing factory as a new business venture for the prisoners. Without any financial input from the authorities, she has said around 40 AIME members will provide the necessary capital to set the new venture up. It will make apparel for a wide variety of sports. The association is currently working on setting budgets, sourcing machinery and establishing the best location inside the prison in which to set the factory up.
She explained that the idea will allow women in the prison to earn financial resources thanks to their own efforts and occupy their time doing something positive. And when they leave jail, they will have skills that will allow them to earn a living in the outside world.
“There is nothing worse than seeing people deprived of their freedom,” Ms Acevedo said after a recent visit to the prison. “That’s why we want to help these women.”
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