In Panama, a unique initiative is underway to rehabilitate prisoners while simultaneously contributing to the conservation of the nation’s rainforests.
Spearheaded by the Red Cross, the program involves a plant nursery and recycling effort within La Joyita prison, once notorious for its deplorable conditions and even nicknamed “stomach of the beast.”
The EcoSólidos program, established within the prison, focuses on recycling efforts where prisoners sort glass, metal, and plastic. This not only helps in waste management but has also significantly improved the reputation of the prison and its inmates. Previously known for filth and squalor, La Joyita has seen a remarkable transformation.
Additionally, the Sembrando Paz (Sowing Peace) vivarium utilizes composted materials from EcoSólidos as fertilizer for its beds. With over 16,000 seedlings valued at $20,000, this vivarium boasts impressive productivity rates, rivaling private gardens.
The impact of these program extends beyond environmental benefits. Tensions within the prison have decreased, leading to reduced violence and a 20% drop in the recidivism rate among released inmates, with none of those involved in the dual program re-offending.
30-year old William Morillo, who spoke of his time served for drug trafficking in La Joyita prison with the Guardian, said, “I passed my time being busy. I wasn’t locked up all the time and the work was fun. It fills me with pride.”
Franklin Ayón, an agronomist and former inmate at La Joyita, conceived EcoSólidos after witnessing the appalling living conditions.
Ayón told the Guardian, “We literally lived on top of rubbish. It was everywhere – in the corners, in the corridors.”
“We had to sit with a towel over our head to eat, just so the flies wouldn’t land on the food,” he added.
Prisoners’ involvement in sorting and selling recyclable materials not only earns them reduced sentences but also garners support from authorities and even prison gang leaders, who temporarily halted conflicts to allow the initiative to proceed.
Ten years since its inception, EcoSólidos has achieved remarkable success, with 80% of prison waste being recycled. Living condition have vastly improved, eliminating the need for prisoners to resort to wearing towels over their heads or plates at meal times to fend off flies.
Furthermore, the vivarium contributes 1,500 tree seedlings annually to the Million Hectares Alliance, a reforestation program aiming to restore one million hectares of land in Panama over the next two decades.
The success of the program hasn’t gone unnoticed. Paraguay, El Salvador, Peru, Colombia, and Honduras have expressed interest in replicating it within their own correctional facilities, indicating its potential for widespread impact.
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