This project seeks to address the problem of the high rate of illiteracy in the prison population in St Vincent and its impact on recidivism particularly among the prison juvenile population. A prisoner who cannot read and write is more susceptible to the destructive behaviour patterns and influences prevalent inside the prison, predisposing them to continue criminal practice and reoffend upon discharge from the institution.
Project Summary
The project implements a user friendly reading scheme that uses a mentor scheme system to teach prisoners to read and write. Mentors are chosen from within the prison population and trained to become reading teachers. The project will also reestablish the Prison Library—rebuilding the libraries in both of the St Vincent prison facilities. .
The project is implemented by Hand2Earth which began as a sustainable lifestyles educational initiative in St. Vincent in 2007 and was registered in November 2017 as a non-profit NGO. The organisation designs and facilitates collective community programmes to address socio-environmental challenges based on creative/productive action as a realistic life strategy. It also focuses on forming creative alliances where communities bring their own commitment, local knowledge and experience to bear on local solutions.