‘Freedom Tattoos’ project covers up prison tattoos to help ex-cons find jobs

The Freedom Tattoos project, a joint effort by Pedagogium College of Social Sciences and ad agency Isobar Poland, is giving ex-cons a chance at starting over — and finding work — by covering their crude, amateur prison tattoos with “professionally, socially well-perceived artistic” ones.

According to Pedagogium’s Freedom Tattoos page:

“Transforming old tattoos enables juvenile delinquents and ex-convicts to start all over again with their lives without a stigma to constantly remind them of the mistakes they made in the past.”

Watch a moving video of the “creative social rehabilitation” effort below:

“Sometimes the slightest change in one’s life can bring the best results” says Padogogium Professor Konopczynski.

“If they decided to get tattoos, then it means that they wanted to express something. We help them express themselves better.”

“The ad casts what Freedom Tattoos does as an extension of its subjects’ personal growth, rather than a matter of hiding their mistakes. Not only is that a smart move, it’s a more accurate and inspiring mission statement,” wrote AdWeek’s David Kiefaber.