Freedom Postcards is an initiative created to highlight the issue of political prisoners through their creative work, solidarity campaigns in their support, and fundraising for the needs of people who are unjustly imprisoned.
The project began in 2021 and over time expanded its focus — from creative materials to the broader topic of political prisoners.
Goals
The initiative seeks to remove the “criminal” stigma imposed on political prisoners by the regime and to show them as individuals — with families, friends, jobs, hobbies, interests, achievements, and plans for the future.
Freedom Postcards also raises funds to support political prisoners through merchandise sales, providing them with material assistance.
Areas of work
To achieve its goals, the initiative:
- publishes creative works (poems, drawings) by political prisoners and runs the project Poems from Prison;
- organizes solidarity actions — for example, Advent calendars with practical tasks and prizes;
- produces informational materials and campaigns for Belarusian and international audiences;
- creates merchandise featuring works by political prisoners (and others) to raise funds.
Results
Over several years, the initiative has grown into an established team that regularly produces content, merchandise, and information campaigns in support of political prisoners.
During this time:
- hundreds of drawings by political prisoners have been received and collected;
- more than 350 poems have been published as part of the Poems from Prison project;
- hundreds of merchandise designs have been created — postcards, tote bags, T-shirts;
- three large-scale Advent marathons and several thematic actions have been held, engaging hundreds of participants;
- more than €25,000 has been raised for the needs of political prisoners through online and offline campaigns and events.
