Day 18: A Time for Goodbyes

Last day in the prison

Yesterday was more officially my last day in the prison, since the women prepared a special send off treat for me: chicarron (fried pork), steamed potatoes, and qapchi, a delicious creamy sauce made from milk, cheese and peanuts. I’m already a big fan of chicarron but the way the women made it, coasted in garlic and salt, then perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, was spectacular.   

While we ate (and I sucked ever bone dry, prompting the women to give me their bones) the women explained some of the nuances of the benefits type of sentence. I hadn’t realized that when someone is sentenced with benefits, they are also required to pay a fine. One of the women, who hopes to be out by November, must pay 4,000 soles ($1,250) before she can be released. When I asked where this money was coming from, she said hopefully her dad can give her a loan. They explained, if you can’t pay, you aren’t released, meaning that the poorest women have to serve their entire sentence, even if they have benefits. 

The other aspect of benefits I didn’t know about is that when these women are released they are required to have a job and a place to live lined up. Housing isn’t too difficult, as most women have families who they can stay with, however, having a job ready when they are released is a huge obstacle. Not only is it difficult to line up work while incarcerated, many people don’t want to hire the women because they have a criminal record. When I asked if the state helped them find work, or if they met with a social worker before leaving, they all looked at me blankly. Clearly not. 

What I find most infuriating about this system is that it requires the women to have the two things that prompted them to become involved in illegal activity in the first place: money and work. Yet the government does nothing to help them with these requirements, nor does it help them once they are released. They are simply released, expected to do better this time around. 

Moving on to happier discussions- yesterday I also talked to the women about what they want to learn in 2016. Leather and silkscreening were at the top of the list for hands on workshops. For more talk based workshops they said they want to learn about how to choose and reach the right market for their products (that specific- I know!) and how to talk to their teenage daughters about safe sex. They are also interested in learning about natural medicine and how to have healthier diets. And jewelry, of course, there are always more earring designs to learn! (No, really, that’s what they told me). 

The best part of that talk was finally the women are telling me what they want, rather than me trying to figure it out through pointed questions. In fact, it got a little hectic with all of them talking at once and me frantically scribbling down their ideas and suggestions. I don’t mind it one bit, though, because it means that the women trust us enough to hear their desires and try to make it happen. 

At the end of the day there were hugs and goodbyes, even though I dropped in briefly today to collect the remainder of my order. No one was too teary eyed, though, we all know in 6 months they will be frying me up some pork again.

One final thing! Today we are launching a fundraising campaign to help purchase high quality pliers for our jewelry classes in Peru & Bolivia. Currently, only 20% of our classroom pliers work properly and these pliers mark and distort the wire. As more women consider turning jewelry making into a business, we believe it is time to get them the necessary tools to do so. 

How you can help? Each plier set (which includes 4 high quality, ergonomic pliers) costs $15 each. Donate $15 and you sponsor one woman in our jewelry making class! Our goal is purchase 25 plier sets to be used in both Peru & Bolivia. 

Donate online or via check to: 41 Leese Street #2, San Francisco, CA 94110!

Click here to donate