Dulce Ramos |

When I started to develop the project of producing cards at the São Paulo State Prison of Carandiru I could never imagine what was expecting me. Nothing will delete from my memory, and from the memory of million of Brazilians and from the international community the image of human bodies dilacerated by the bullets of guns piled on a ocean of blood. What happened in Carandiru’s Pavilion 9, in October 1992, was one of the most horrendous atrocities committed inside a prison in the world. I had 40 interns from Pavilion 9 as part of my work force and my reaction was to run immediately to the gate of the prison looking for news of our employees. After almost two weeks and several attempts in order to obtain any information, it was announced that 111 prisoners were dead, among them 20 who worked in our assembling line. What was supposed to be a simple finishing work became our only hope and the main goal for all those who survived…

Our cards are unique worldwide. They are hand made and we use the insertion technique. Through this project 800 prisoners can plan a better life. They are paid by the number of cards produced. In addition, for every three days of work there is a reduction of one day of their punishment. For those who have entrepreneurial ambitions, they can start their own business when they leave the prison.

The result is visible and concrete: the reinsertion of human beings in the society through the development of professional activities. I thank to the businessmen and all to those people who have no social prejudice that made us believe that we can be the best in the art of transforming virtual into reality and a dream into reality.