Programs

WALJOK supports Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) workshops in more than 21 Bolivian prisons, including Palmasola (Bolivia’s largest) and San Pedro (holding more than 4,000 inmates in La Paz). These workshops offer incarcerated individuals practical tools for managing conflict, reducing violence, and building trust in environments where tension is constant and consequences are high.

AVP workshops are experiential and circle-based, emphasizing listening, personal responsibility, and cooperation. Participants learn to reflect on the roots of anger and aggression, practice clear communication, and respond to conflict without violence. Over time, these skills contribute to safer prison environments and help participants retain a sense of dignity and agency.

In some facilities, AVP principles are reinforced through work programs such as the greenhouse projects founded by the UK-based Quaker Bolivia Link. These spaces provide structure, purpose, and opportunities for collaboration, turning daily routine into moments where nonviolence, accountability, and leadership can be practiced in real time.

The Student Residence in Sorata provides a stable place for students from remote rural communities to live while attending secondary school. Many of these students come from villages where access to education beyond the primary level is limited or nonexistent. The home allows them to stay close to school, focus on their studies, and build supportive relationships with peers and mentors.

Life at the Student Residence is structured but communal. Students share meals, responsibilities, and study time, learning how to live together respectfully and cooperatively. Families remain closely involved in their children’s lives; the home is not a replacement for family, but an extension of it—offering opportunity while preserving connection.

Alongside academic support, students are introduced to the principles of nonviolence, dialogue, and mutual respect drawn from the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP). These tools help young people navigate conflict, strengthen self-confidence, and carry lessons of cooperation back to their families and communities.

In addition to prisons and the Student Residence, WALJOK supports AVP workshops in high schools, particularly in and around La Paz. These workshops bring nonviolence education directly into classrooms, reaching students before cycles of conflict and harm take root.

High school workshops focus on communication, self-esteem, cooperation, and creative conflict resolution. Students learn how to listen actively, express themselves clearly, and navigate disagreements without aggression. The workshops are interactive and participatory, creating space for students to reflect on their own experiences and choices.

By introducing AVP principles in schools, the program reinforces prevention alongside rehabilitation. Young people gain practical skills they can use in their families, friendships, and communities—strengthening a culture of dialogue and respect that extends well beyond the classroom.