Daniela Ancira: A journey of empowerment and change

Daniela Ancira - Founder of La Cana, Proyecto de Reinserción Social AC

2024 WE Empower UN SDG Challenge Finalist, Latin America and Caribbean Region

Through her work, Daniela Ancira creates awareness for the systemic lack of support for incarcerated women, often trapping them in cycles of crime and violence driven by desperation. Inspired to advocate for systemic change, Ancira leveraged her legal expertise and connections to create pathways for societal reintegration for marginalized individuals. She co-founded La Cana, a hybrid organization combining a civil association and social enterprise, dedicated to training and employing incarcerated women and developing reintegration programs within prisons.

La Cana’s Mission

La Cana implements social reintegration programs in women’s prisons, promoting psychosocial and occupational skills to facilitate successful reintegration and reduce recidivism. In 2023, the organization trained 558 women, with 60% securing employment. Additionally, 595 women participated in mental health workshops, resulting in a 64% improvement in emotional regulation and resilience, and 249 women engaged in educational, cultural, artistic, and sports activities. Their follow-up program supported 73 women in their post-incarceration journey.

Ancira believes in the power of empathy and action to drive meaningful societal change. Her mission revolves around empowering women to create lives of passion and self-worth. This mission stems from her early experiences as a law student participating in a volunteering program that provided pro bono legal counseling to incarcerated women in a local prison. The dire conditions and harrowing stories she encountered highlighted the stark contrast between her own opportunities and the women’s circumstances.

La Cana’s model contributes to multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They provide gender-sensitive vocational training, promoting economic empowerment to break cycles of violence (SDG 5: Gender Equality). Their programs offer educational and recreational services to underprivileged communities, fostering effective social reintegration and empowering women to recognize their self-worth and capabilities (SDG 10: Reducing Inequalities).

Composed of 93% women, including formerly incarcerated women, La Cana fosters leadership and advocacy within its team. They create safe spaces for feedback and participation, ensuring their programs meet the beneficiaries’ needs. Certified as a Free Space of Gender Violence, La Cana upholds zero tolerance for violence, discrimination, or aggression, promoting a safe and inclusive work environment (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Committed to environmental sustainability, La Cana prioritizes remote work, group travel, and local suppliers to reduce their carbon footprint. They aim to further educate and develop policies for greater ecological impact.

Through her work with La Cana, Daniela Ancira continues to give voice to incarcerated women’s stories, generating empathy and awareness, and driving systemic change for a more equitable society.