The Kolbe Foundation is celebrating five years since it took control of the Hattieville Prison. The highlight of the week is an open exhibition of items created by inmates. Managers say that in 5 years, the prison population has grown, but so has morale as the penitentiary has been converted into a production line with a block factory, a tailor shop, and the spirit of enterprise. They say the open exhibition is proof of that.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This bunk bed, these steel doors, carvings, jewelry, and even these concrete blocks are the work of inmates at the Hattieville Prison. Jerme Matura who is serving time for handling stolen goods worked with jellewer Marlon Itza on these silver works.
Jerme Matura, Inmate
"I myself Jerme Matura, I am an inmate and I get introduced to this job through the Kolbe Foundation and when in started this thing I had no knowledge about it and now I am in the jewelry section for 26 months and I have learnt a lot already."
And from scrap jewelry to scrap tires. 59-year-old Ashley Young who is serving time for assault made mats and flowerpots from old tires.
Ashley Young, Inmate
"I made door mats out of waste tires. I also made flower pots out of tires that you can fill up with soil and put small plants in it and I also made slippers out of the tires too as well."
Keith Swift,
All of these things are made from old tires?
Ashley Young,
"Old tires."
Keith Swift,
How did you learn to do this?
Ashley Young,
"Well by practicing and that was it. This keeps me occupied doing my time that I don't feel frustrated."
Elmo Henderson - who is serving 9 years for burglary works with wood - whether it be something as small as a carving or a piece as big as this bunk bed.
Elmo Henderson, Inmate
"We usually work in a group, these are group work. We do carvings, we do carved doors, we do different shelves and whatever we can do with wood."
And now Elmo's bed, Ashley's doormats, and Jerme's jewelry are on sale as part of Kolbe week. Sales representative for the prison is Anthony Bradley.
Anthony Bradley, Sales Rep. - Kolbe Foundation
"The whole purpose here is to highlight what is being done here at Kolbe over the next four days, leading up right into family day on Sunday. There are some items that they might be interested in to buy and that is what we want to do too, we want to exhibit and we are in business also."
And even if they didn't make a penny off of what they made it - these prisoners say the experience is worth it.
Jerme Matura,
"If you want to be a better man for society, you can be so if you like. There is an opportunity around and that is the reason why I can say that yes, I know something now."
The sale runs through to Friday.
Most items are on sale. Kolbe week concludes with a family day.
