EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND WORK It’s a double restoration — not just of the house but of the person. What does Indianapolis need? A solution to this housing crisis. What do women in prison need, more than anything? Ownership. Of our minds, of our bodies, and of our physical homes.92 Vanessa Thompson, Constructing Our Future, Indiana Women’s Prison (see Promising Practice below) PROMISING PRACTICE: Investing in prisoners’ futures US: Constructing our Future programme Constructing our Future is a community revitalisation programme dedicated to providing education, housing and employment to formerly incarcerated women in Indianapolis, US, whilst also mitigating the problem of abandoned homes in Indianapolis – thereby restoring communities and at the same time promoting successful integration of women. The programme combines extensive training in life skills with education and practice in building trades and residential maintenance. Participating women learn multiple trades, and can obtain certified construction skills and carry out work to restore formerly abandoned homes. The aim is for women released from prison to be independent, law-abiding citizens who give back to the community and in the process reduce recidivism, rebuild communities and provide affordable housing. The programme was conceived by a group of incarcerated women who had participated in a public policy class in prison, where they discussed life after prison and what they would need to be successful. In 2017 their programme was endorsed by the Indiana General Assembly as a re-entry programme for women leaving prison. 34 | Criteria for participating include a willingness to complete training programmes, the ability to be a productive member of a team, and a commitment to the mission to rehabilitate abandoned houses. UK: Bike repair training In 2017, Halfords – a UK retailer of car parts, bicycles and other equipment – launched a cycle mechanic training facility at Drake Hall prison for women prisoners who want to train as bike mechanics. The project aims to increase the number of female bike mechanics in a profession that is traditionally male-dominated. The women are supported by Halfords workers and, during their training, they work on reconditioned bikes that are then donated to primary schools in disadvantaged areas of the country. The company has since hired former female prisoners who signed up to the training scheme while serving their sentences. Algeria: Microcredit schemes Since a prison reform strategy was adopted in Algeria in 2006 for the reintegration of prisoners and the prevention of recidivism, over 7,850 former prisoners have benefitted from employment assistance schemes.93 Algerian prison authorities have agreements with several microcredit agencies to help former prisoners set up their own businesses after release. Penal Reform International and Thailand Institute of Justice | Guide to the rehabilitation and social reintegration of women prisoners