Inmates learn trade skills

 By PISAI GUMAR

BUIMO jail plans to equip inmates with trade skills so they have something to lean on when they are out in the community.

The practical approach will hopefully provide them some momentum to enable them seek a direction in life post-prison.

Prison commander Judy Tara said Buimo required technical institutions to work with it to ensure inmates were taught basic life skills that would allow them become productive citizens.

The inmates are involved in learning joinery, carpentry, maintenance work, small engine repairing, electronics, agriculture, livestock and poultry skills.

Carpentry and joinery is sponsored by the AusAID programme.

The Taiwan Technical Mission, through its ICDF programme, got involved recently in agricultural activities.

Skills were taught to cultivate corn, taro, cassava, kaukau, banana and of vegetables.

The female inmates focused on sewing, cooking, baking and screen printing sponsored by Lae Lioness Club. 

“The females need heavy-duty sewing machines and material to venture into sewing uniforms, while the males require brick making skills and equipment,” Tara said.

“Our aim is to ensure that all inmates  walk out from Buimo with skills certificates that will help them secure self employment and involve themselves meaningfully out in the community,” she  said.

She applauded companies, faith-based and non-government organisations that contributed to changing the face of Buimo in kind and skills training, as well the upkeep of the environment.

Manager projects, Insp Francis Tommy said that Taiwan’s involvement in agriculture had boosted the morale of many inmates who sacrificed to spend all their time in plots growing crops.

“The fresh foods, vegetables, piggery and poultry after harvesting, half is divided into the mess to supplement inmates diet while the rest is sold to buy seedlings, piglets and chicks again,” Tommy said.