One of the strategic pillars that have characterized LA CANA since its creation as a social enterprise is that we seek to create work opportunities for women deprived of their liberty with the aim of teaching them a trade that provides them with an income away from crime. We aim for these women, upon their release, to have employment that allows them to earn a legal income to support themselves and their families.

At LA CANA, we believe that fostering a work ethic among women deprived of their liberty is the best way not only to keep them occupied, but also to truly empower them by learning a trade they can pursue after leaving prison. We seek to prevent these women from re-offending out of necessity, by providing them with a source of income that allows them to be self-sufficient, and thus reduce the rate of recidivism in our country.

We train women in weaving, embroidery, sewing, textile knotting, macramé, screen printing, and carpentry techniques through workshops in the different penitentiary centers where we operate. There, we teach them everything from the basics of each technique to how to create their own designs. Through work, we seek to foster various values among them such as effort, commitment, discipline, perseverance, and teamwork.

Subsequently, we sell the products handmade by them and give them the money from the sale.

This not only benefits them, but also impacts society in general, because when women have a trade they can work in after leaving prison, it prevents them from re-offending out of necessity, thereby creating a safer society and helping to reduce overcrowding and congestion in our penitentiary centers.

Furthermore, we believe it is especially important to support incarcerated women because 85% of women deprived of their liberty have children, which means that every day they spend in prison, there is a child who does not have the education and care of their mother. Therefore, at LA CANA, we believe that giving these women a second chance is the best way to achieve a more inclusive society, free of crime, and with greater opportunities for a better future.

We currently work in 6 penitentiary centers: Barrientos, Nezahualcóyotl Bordo, Nezahualcóyotl Sur, Chalco, and Ecatepec, in the State of Mexico, and Santa Martha Acatitla in Mexico City.