Flávia Maria da Silva celebrates a year of freedom with H360

A year ago, on February 7, 2023, Flávia Maria da Silva left the Women’s Penitentiary Progression Center of São Miguel Paulista, where she was serving a semi-open regime after almost 10 years in a closed regime. In a statement to Humanitas360, she tells what has changed in her life since then, from the multidisciplinary care she received from H360 while she was in prison – including psychosocial support and professional training – to her current work at the institute, where she helps to ensure that women like her have their rights guaranteed. In the same week that she celebrated her 45th birthday, Flávia also shared other of her achievements in freedom, such as in-person studies and family life.

“It’s been a year working at the Humanitas360 Institute, doing a little of what they did in my life,” she said. “I have also lived with my daughters and my sons. I moved, I’m living in a different environment, in a better place. It’s the same thing I wish for other women who still dream of this same opportunity inside prison.”

Amidst the celebration with the H360 team to mark one year of freedom, Flávia Maria da Silva summarized what she was feeling: “I was buried alive for 11 years and a year ago I was born again. Thank you.”

Congratulations, Flavia!