Several inmates enrolled in professional development courses at the Lifelong Learning Unit (LLU) of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus (UWIFIC) expressed gratitude for a generous donation from the institution and the Board of Education (BoE).
The LLU, established in August 2021, aims to enhance the skills and capacity of adult learners in the workplace by providing diverse learning opportunities.
The inmates recently received three new laptops to support their online studies.
Joel Seraphin, a recipient of a fully paid scholarship through the Seeds of Hope program, expressed appreciation for the opportunity.
Alongside fellow inmates Kaniel Martin and Colin Murraine, Seraphin graduated at the top of his class in 2022.
Recognizing the stigma attached to inmates, Seraphin acknowledged the program as a second chance in life that they will not take for granted.
Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Pennyfeather, the prison boss, emphasized the importance of giving everyone a second chance, regardless of their background or past mistakes.
He expressed his happiness that the BoE and the Lifelong Learning Unit collaborated to extend compassion and rehabilitation opportunities to the inmates.
Pennyfeather highlighted the prison’s transformation into a correctional facility, emphasizing the need to guide and correct the paths of the incarcerated citizens.
Paula C M Lee, the Executive Director of the Unit, acknowledged that inmates are often forgotten or treated as outcasts, despite their potential, emotional needs, and expectations.
The Seeds of Hope Program allows them to pursue education and prepares them for successful reintegration into society.
Lee emphasized that learning plays a crucial role in transforming their behavior and subsequently influencing others.
Chet Jacobs, the Financial Administrator at the BoE and manager of the Dune Janelle Jacobs Charity, expressed the corporation’s continuous support for education in primary, secondary, and lifelong learning settings.
Jacobs pledged to donate an additional laptop to the prison, applauding the inmates’ eagerness to learn and improve themselves.
For over five years, the Seeds of Hope family charity has been actively contributing to the development of education in the country.