In this article, we took the opportunity to get to know the social business of Reshape Ceramics, through an interview given by its Executive Director, Marco Ribeiro Henriques.

Reshape Ceramics is a project implemented in Portugal, more specifically in the municipality of Oeiras, Lisbon, and is described as a training program for people who are/were deprived of their liberty, through work and training in the ceramics field. It currently employs 7 people and, since its creation, 21 people have worked at Reshape Ceramics. This project ends with the employability of these individuals while serving their sentences, and after completing their sentence, they still have the opportunity to remain connected to external work.

 

Why did you choose to work in the ceramics sector? What should be considered when choosing the field of activity?

Ceramics emerged as an opportunity when we decided to start a social business. We conducted a study in Lisbon’s prison establishments and pragmatically found that the most viable option was to use an existing workshop within the prison, which had adequate space and equipment. This structure already existed but had been inactive for a long time. It was within the prisons that we discovered the potential of ceramics.

 

How was it implemented?

The key is to think about a social business that works. It’s not a conventional business; it’s social, with an economic intervention scope that has a social impact. Therefore, it’s important to consider the context, space, and partnerships. We weren’t looking for a completely disruptive and innovative business that would ignore the system where it would be implemented. We always need to consider the ground conditions, and our workspace is within the prison environment. This requires a cooperative approach with the system to ultimately achieve the impacts we set out to accomplish.

 

Is it a sustainable business?

It depends on the perspective. Socially, yes, it’s sustainable. Regarding recidivism, none of the participants have returned to prison, at least as far as we know. Economically, it’s a significant challenge. From our perspective, a social business should be self-sustainable, meaning it should fund itself. There needs to be a professionalized aspect, so we have a system for producing and selling pieces. The challenge is to maintain the structure with revenue growth that doesn’t always occur as quickly as we’d like.

 

What are the funding sources supporting this type of business?

This is one of the most challenging topics. We had initial funding from a private French foundation that enabled the purchase of ceramic equipment, with a very important financing modality: the revenue based fund that helped avoid financial strain, providing a very interesting dimension of business monitoring by the funder, along with a supervisory role. For the development of social businesses, it’s crucial to have defined financial approaches as it seems inappropriate to have typical funding lines available for social projects. There’s no single answer to these situations in both the social sector and at the state level.

 

Is there any collaboration with the State? If yes, to what extent? If not, what are the obstacles?

The State can contribute in other areas, such as hiring staff through specific employment measures like IEFP internships (Institute for Employment and Vocational Training). Although these measures aren’t directly targeted at the social sector, they can provide valuable opportunities for the project. Another possibility would be tax reductions for social sectors, which could significantly facilitate the project’s financial sustainability. There’s clearly significant space for development and improvement in these areas, representing important opportunities for collaboration and mutual support between the project and the State.

 

What are the benefits of this social business for the employed individuals? And for the community?

One of the main successes of the project is connecting incarcerated individuals to the job market, often excluded from this functional dynamic. This integration provides peaceful coexistence with workplace practices, such as hierarchies, professionalization, and training. This initiative is crucial for both the individuals involved in the project and the community at large. It provides a safe and supportive space during the reintegration phase, assisting them in transitioning to other job opportunities. Additionally, it has a significant impact by supporting vulnerable individuals, helping to prevent further conflicts with the law. For the community, the project serves as a valuable tool in raising awareness of social, professional, and personal values, contributing to awareness of the importance of social reintegration. By encouraging community involvement in purchasing products made by incarcerated individuals, it also stimulates change in the prison system.

 

What are the obstacles to maintaining a social business in a prison context? And outside?

The main obstacle is the legal vacuum, which poses a significant risk to the implementation of social businesses. Additionally, the culture of the system, both in terms of institutional structure and human resources, often presents a conflicting view, resulting in significant barriers. The prison system is often lagging behind the outside world, requiring additional efforts to overcome these obstacles and promote effective changes.

 

How are individuals selected to work in the social business?

For us, everyone has a talent that can be worked on. Although positions are limited, when selecting, we prioritize criteria such as personal availability and interest in being part of the process. We don’t impose restrictions on the type of crime that led to imprisonment, but we consider the duration of the sentence as a relevant criteria. We prefer to recruit people who are serving sentences (rather than those under preventive measures) because it provides us with greater predictability regarding commitment to the project. In cases of individuals under preventive measures, we opt to make a prognosis judgment based on the type of crime being judged. We also tend to ask people, once convicted, if they intend to stay or request relocation to another prison, precisely to ensure stability in the relationship.

 

Do incarcerated individuals have the same labor rights? (minimum wage, vacation, social security, etc.)

Legally, there isn’t an established employment contract with incarcerated individuals who work with us. People at Reshape Ceramics receive an hourly rate that is proportional to the minimum wage, and therefore, it’s not possible to guarantee social security benefits due to their condition. However, accident insurance is provided, similar to what exists for activities outside the prison establishments.

 

From a social perspective, what do you consider to be the main impacts of this type of activity in terms of individuals’ social reintegration?

The indicators of impact of our work are diverse. Firstly, the absence of recidivism among program participants demonstrates the effectiveness of the approach in promoting social reintegration. Additionally, individuals’ employability, along with family stability and mental health, are fundamental aspects that we closely monitor. Within Reshape Ceramics, we provide psychosocial support to individuals upon their release, which runs concurrently with their work at the workshop. We also consider the success of those who have already been through the program as impact indicators.
At a systemic level, the system views Reshape Ceramics as a best practice to be followed, challenging the implementation of similar initiatives in other prisons. Furthermore, we observe a change in institutional culture as the topic is discussed and there’s increasing involvement from all stakeholders. This mindset shift is essential to ensure a more holistic and effective approach to promoting social reintegration.

 

What are society’s perceptions regarding your work?

There’s a peaceful perception of social businesses and how they embody our values, especially regarding work. This is evident especially in how we market the pieces, seeking to professionalize sales through e-commerce platforms rather than relying solely on local fairs. Additionally, the normalization of social businesses alongside other products can contribute to increasing awareness of our initiative. Each piece we produce is unique, carrying a customization that highlights the importance and impact of the work done by program participants.

 

If someone wanted to create a social enterprise to work within the ecosystem of a detention house, what would be the first steps to initiate the process?
It is crucial to have a predisposition to embrace the prison system and its beneficiaries with strategic empathy. This includes conducting preliminary studies and understanding the nuances of the prison environment, such as its rules, security dimensions, and infrastructure conditions. It is essential to recognize and respect these limitations when planning and implementing initiatives. Working closely with the system is essential, ensuring the participation of all stakeholders in decision-making. Only then can we evolve together in a joint and effective manner, seeking results that are realistic and meaningful within the prison context.

 

There is clearly a lot to learn from Reshape Ceramics and a lot to do in regarding the implementation of social businesses in Portugal. We hope that in the future, other social projects would emerge, contributing to the promotion of social reintegration of individuals deprived of their freedom.

Ana Guerreiro & Chiara Serafini

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