Prison Is No Longer the End of the Road in Bulgaria

Anton is 31 years old. He has a degree in international economic relations from Varna Free University. At a turning point in his life, he lost his mother, fell into a depression, and turned to drugs. He committed a crime and went to jail. He did his time and was released but quickly found he wouldn’t be hired even as a gravedigger. The reason: his criminal record.

Statistics show that 95% of ex-convicts in Bulgaria cannot find a job. The dire reality is compounded by the absence of functioning centers for the prevention of violent crime and the reintegration of offenders into society.

The Varna-based Altruist Association is among a small number of NGOs in Bulgaria working to give ex-convicts a second chance. In 2016, the organization won the big prize in the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law’s competition for an NGO business plan with the support of ABF. The winning idea was to create a social enterprise in Varna Prison. Today, the association runs a concrete goods plant and a service helping inmates find work in building renovation, which enable convicts to return to their work habits while still behind bars. This way, Altruist hopes to change the notion that prisoners are a burden on taxpayers.

Watch this video to learn more about Altruist’s work HERE. 
To find out how to support it, visit HERE.

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