Johana Bahamón 

It takes courage to embrace second chances and opportunities

A testament to resilience, Johana’s journey to championing dignity amidst adversity.

It takes courage to embark on a journey of profound transformation, and Johana Bahamon embodies this courage through her remarkable story. In 2012, Johana’s life took a profound turn when she visited a prison as a jury member in Bogotá. As an actress for 15 years, this experience opened her eyes to the critical need for comprehensive programs addressing the emotional and psychological healing of incarcerated individuals, alongside education and job training.

Motivated by this encounter, Johana founded the Acción interna Foundation, dedicated to the well-being and reintegration of those deprived of freedom. Through the foundation’s efforts, over 152,000 individuals across Colombian prisons have been positively impacted, with each transformational story underscoring the significance of their work.

A notable milestone of the foundation was the creation of Interno, the world’s first restaurant open to the public within a women’s prison, challenging societal perceptions of prisons while offering inmates employment and training opportunities. This groundbreaking project gained global recognition, named one of the 100 best places to visit by Time magazine in 2018.

Johana’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges, yet it has brought her significant rewards. She was honored to have been selected by the Obama Foundation to participate in a meeting with former President Barack Obama and ten young emerging leaders from Colombia. Additionally, she was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador by the Ministry of Justice and Law in 2014, with the mission of promoting the resocialization and humanization of the prison system.

In Johana’s remarkable journey, she expresses pride in the role played by her organization in promoting the creation of the Second Chances Law (Law 2208 of May 17, 2022). This law provides economic incentives to strengthen access to employment and training opportunities for individuals leaving prison, representing a significant step towards building a system that fosters reintegration and offers hope to those seeking a new opportunity in society.

Every step of Johana’s journey has taught her that adversity can serve as a powerful catalyst for change. From her humble beginnings as a simple visitor in a prison to her leadership role in Acción interna, her experience stands as a testament to how adversity can ignite a mission of love and compassion. Johana’s work continues to inspire and offer hope to those seeking redemption, reminding everyone that empathy and action, guided by the heart, have the power to transform lives. Throughout this exciting journey, Johana has discovered that the true force of change lies in human connection and the unwavering belief that everyone deserves a second chance to build a better future.