Seeds of Freedom

•   Activity period: 1 week of training, with the schedule to be determined between June 22 and July 6. 2 weeks of project activities scheduled from July 6 to 20, 2020.   

• Location of activities: All activities will be conducted remotely  

• Further logistical details will be agreed upon with partners and communicated in June 2020.  

Semi di Libertà ONLUS was founded in Rome on January 28, 2013, with the mission of preventing inmates from reoffending and committing new crimes. 

From March 2014 to May 2019, the organization established and managed the Vale la Pena microbrewery in Rome. This project was designed to provide training and professional development opportunities within the craft beer industry, and its start-up phase was co-financed by the Ministry of Education, Universities, and Research (MIUR) and the Ministry of Justice (Cassa delle Ammende).

In June 2018, by hosting the first National Prison Economy Festival in Rome, it laid the groundwork for the creation of a national Prison Economy network to support the numerous production projects operating within Italian prisons.

• Synopsis: Conceiving, defining, and launching a start-up within the prison economy system, along with other activities focused on the social and professional inclusion of inmates.
• How: Using tools and techniques for communication and remote work, both individually and in groups, tailored to one's skills and interests, and by developing social inclusion projects. 
• What: Together, we’ll shape the creation of a start-up within the prison economy sector. This journey will encompass identifying the business concept, defining its unique characteristics, and exploring project financing options—from traditional fundraising methods (grants, foundations, etc.) to microcredit and even equity crowdfunding initiatives. We will collaborate in the design and development of participatory actions related to the projects the association carries out, with the aim of influencing processes that improve the prison environment, urban regeneration, social and employment inclusion, and economic and cultural innovation.
• Why: Our Association's mission is to prevent recidivism, meaning to stop individuals serving criminal sentences from committing crimes again. The most effective tools in this regard are training, work, and empowerment. In this regard, prisons can generate resources, values, and much more. A business that includes inmates has a huge positive impact on society, both in terms of social security and in reducing the enormous costs of recidivism. Prisons can and should be seen as a “neighborhood” within the city, and their residents are citizens with rights and responsibilities who can also make a positive impact. Finally, the prison economy circuit can offer a range of opportunities and added value. Together, we'll explore all of this.