By Derrick Pitts
Fall 2022 Newsletter
With the sewing machines we received from Sewing Peace we were able to partner with the local prison to start a sewing program for the inmates at the Belize Prison. The objectives of the sewing program are:
- To introduce the inmates to a marketable life skill. A skill which they can gain an honest income from.
- To save the prison money at the same time.
With 1200 inmates at a prison facility that operates off 80% donations, the cost of taking care of these inmates can be burdensome. To the point that some inmates don’t have proper clothing. After jumpsuits are laundered, the workforce inspects each one for tears and missing snaps. The prison sends out for repair an average of 200 jumpsuits per month at a cost of $5 each. That amounts to $12,000 per year. Since each jumpsuit costs about $15 to $17 to replace, damaged jumpsuits were disposed of after three repairs. However, through this partnership with Sewing Peace and Belizean volunteers we are able to teach inmates how to first sew and repair their inmates’ jumpsuits. Which will be a HUGE cost saving instrument for the prison.
Using donated pieces of fabric and their own imaginations, “they are expressing themselves artistically,” said one of the volunteers. Using their creativity, the prison will market their artwork so they can gain an income while in prison. The ultimate goal is to see inmates have a second shot at life when they reenter society. It is our hope and plan that when inmates graduate from our program and are released from prison, they will receive a sewing machine, fabric, and a business plan to help sustain themselves and family.
This is a win-win for the prison and the inmates. A huge thanks to Sewing Peace and their generous donors for making this program a life changing success.