The volunteer initiative “Solidarity Postcards Workshop” has been active since the first arrests of activists in 2020. Since then, we have developed designs and printed thousands of postcards, sent more than 15,000 messages behind bars, held a hundred meetings of signing solidarity postcards in Belarus and the countries of emigration, formed a volunteer movement that still handwrites wishes from an online form and sends postcards with its own hands. and letters to prisoners.
Why is it important to write to political prisoners?
We believe that “a Belarusian is a Belarusian to a Belarusian”, so it is important for us to create and support a community around the topic of solidarity with political prisoners. Every letter, every word, every expression of support helps create a powerful voice that breaks the silence and shows prisoners that they are not alone in their fight for freedom and justice.
“Relentless writing of postcards, letters, telegrams to political prisoners, congratulations on their birthday, New Year, other holidays, March 25 — these are very important moments that really support them and strengthen their psyche, make them stronger in these difficult circumstances. I hope that people will not leave and forget political prisoners”, — Ales Bialiatski, political prisoner, chairman and founder of the “Viasna” HRC, Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
How are we different from other inmate email services?
Our online form allows you to support prisoners from anywhere in the world. We carefully handwrite each message on a postcard and send it to the prisoners from Belposhta boxes. So the prisoner feels more attention and care, and the chance of the letter reaching the addressee is much higher. Our volunteers also add perfume to postcards, put stickers and other methods to decorate mail for prisoners.
In addition, we actively hold offline volunteer meetings for signing postcards, where everyone can write a message, which we then pass on to the prisoners. We are always ready to help with writing newsletters and tell you how to start or continue writing letters to prisoners.
All our work is done on a volunteer basis, so the “Solidarity Postcard Workshop” needs your support more than ever.
How much is needed?
20,000 — fundraising is open for the following needs: printing postcards to send to prisoners; purchase of envelopes and postage stamps; support for holding volunteer meetings for writing letters and postcards of solidarity; support coverage of the topic in social networks.
We have many ambitious plans and we will not stop until the last political prisoner is released.
Thank you for your solidarity!