Prisoners’ talents steal the show at Kolbe

It is the seventh year that the Kolbe Foundation has been in control of the prison facilities. And since Sunday, August ninth, activities marking Kolbe Week have been taking place, under the theme: “Restoring Life through Meaningful Rehabilitation, Successful Reintegration and Brotherly Love.” And while the walls and bars are there to suppress criminal minds, it also houses some talented people—whether it may be in the academics, creative arts, technical and/or vocational fields. News Five was at the week’s talent show this afternoon and spoke with Director of Rehabilitation, Jesus-Juan Vega, a former inmate, who says the talent show helps inmates with self-expression.

Jesus-Juan Vega, Director of Rehabilitation
“We’re gonna have poems, we’re gonna have singing and we’re gonna have dancing. I think that within the discipline part it is about self-discipline, self-control and being you and not being someone else. For us its part of rehabilitation to let these guys understand that they have great talents but what has happened because of the addictive mentalities that they had in the past and that they had no time to really search themselves to see what talents they have. So we encourage these things in Kolbe so that these individuals can be more grateful and understanding themselves to their talents and become a survival upon their release from prison.”

Mel Auil Jr., C.E.O., Kolbe Foundation
“We started on Sunday, the ninth with a family day. On Monday we had the official opening ceremonies, which was opened by Carlos Perdomo, the minister in charge of prisons. On Tuesday, we had motivational talks by various people who came in; Commissioner Jeffries, C.E.O. of the Ministry of National Security, Mr. Lloyd Gillett, myself, Mr. John Woods, our head counselor and a couple of officers. Yesterday we had the social studies quiz. It was arranged and the questions were given by the Belize Tourism Board. We had our spelling bee competition. This morning we had our marathon and our sports day as well and now they are having the talent show.”

Tomorrow Kolbe will be having an officer appreciation day followed by a boxing competition. The week will culminate on Sunday with another family day at the facility.