Suzanne is the coordinator of FreeHands and is a missionary serving in Bolivia with Latin Link (an evangelical Christian organisation). She and her family have lived and worked in Bolivia since 1999.  She began visiting San Sebastián Women's Prison and soon realised that the prisoners could use their sewing and painting skills they had learnt in prison to generate an income to provide for their families. Suzanne and her husband Charles live in Cochabamba and are committed to serving poor families. They also administer two Christian day care nurseries, which provide an opportunity for parents to leave their young children in a safe, loving environment while they are free to work. They have three children: the eldest, Stephen at university in England, while Katy and Zoë attend a local school in Cochabamba.

Maria has six kids, Miguel Angel, Gustavo, Ramero, Roseo, Marco Antonio and Katerin. She and her husband ran an import business and made enough money to buy a house, but as the economic situation changed the house went into negative equity. They could not afford to repay the debts, her husband then disappeared leaving her with the children and thousands of dollars of debt. Because she was unable to repay this debt she went to jail. She has now left prison and is living with her children in Cochabamba (she's originally from Potosi). Her father was a tailor and taught her to sew. Maria is in charge of the sewing section of the workshop.

Viki has six children. Her husband died several years ago leaving her with the pressure of providing for their children. She ran out of money and ways to make money and so when a neighbour offered her money to carry drugs she accepted despite feeling it was not right. She spent just over four years in total in prison. In jail she learnt to sew, paint and alter clothes and is struggling to make her living doing this now. Viki enjoys looking after the shop that FreeHands has in the centre of Cochabamba, for local sales.

Alcira has 3 children; Elizabeth, Joel and Jhoselyn.  She is good at sewing and embroidery and when in jail also worked in the day care centre for babies.  Her husband continues to be in jail also for drug related offences and she visits him daily.  Alcira also helps in our own childcare programme  and loves playing with the kids.

Eli is from a tiny village near the mining town of Potosi, which is one of the highest in Bolivia.  She is the middle one of 12 children and has 2 children of her own; José and Erica.  Eli lived in the Santa Cruz area for several years and paints beautiful scenes from this area for cards and also makes quilling cards which you see on the website.  Eli worked in the nursery inside the jail while serving her sentence and now enjoys looking after all the women's children in FreeHands after school hours as well as producing crafts herself.

Marlen has 4 children, Maritsabe, Betsabe, Karen and Christian.  She is the chief buyer for FreeHands and knows where to find the cheapest prices!  Marlen changed a lot during her stay in jail when she became a Christian and her dream now is to support her children and be a really good Mum to them.

Virginia is from Cochabamba.  She provides social care for the women and assists Suzanne with pastoral issues.  Prior to her time in jail, she studied social services.  She was in prison because of economic difficulties and whilst there, she attended computer classes and helped with the children in jail.  She has 4 children and 4 grandchildren.

Margarita is from Cochabamba and has one son, Jhonny.  Her  talent is machine embroidery and makes beautiful tablecloths, table centres and aprons.  This is done by guiding the material using a treadle sewing machine which involves much more skill than a computerized one!  She spent 6½ years in prison for possible drug carrying.  She and Jhonny live alone and are very close.

Blanca has 3 young children. She was in jail for 3½ years and is on conditional release which means she has to sign in at the jail every day.  She currently works in our kitchen helping Mabel making cakes and shortbread for the cafe.  She is beginning to come out of her shell and chats more with the other women.