Programs
BEYOND PRISON WALL
In 2002, a project aimed at giving hope and care to people behind bars was conceived out of a meeting between the Prison Justice & Development Program (PJDP) of Caritas Manila and Ambassador Ramon del Rosario, JCI Philippines 1st National President (1949-50). Being a true Jaycee by heart and who believes with the tenets of the Jaycee Creed that "Service to Humanity is the Best Work of Life" the good ambassador believed that project be a genuine service to humanity. The 2002 National Board with the National President Mabel Villarica-Mamba then adopted it and named it as BEYOND PRISON WALL project.
JCI Philippines National Board approved it in April 13, 2002 and was then formally launched it in April 16, 2002 at the Navotas Municipal Jail. Thus, a national project, called "Beyond Prison Walls", was finally created to respond and lead on implementing said project. Its 1st National Chairman appointed to this project was from the Manila Jaycees, JCI Sen. Randy Manaloto, who was also Past Chairman for National Project TOYM 2000 (The Outstanding Young Men) that produced Three (3) JCI TOYP Awardees (Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World). He is also currently serving as member of the Board of Directors of TOYM Foundation.
Together for the first time with the help of the local organizations, everyone join hands in implementing this program with the aim of helping the correctional community (the people inside the jails and prisons) in their total human development based on the principles of a balanced and restorative justice.
The three major strategies that the project will focus on:
1) Human Rights Advocacy to the Accused - It has to be emphasized that a person is assumed innocent unless proven guilty by due process of law. Thus, an accused person should know his Rights and awareness to the Due Process so that he can be given a fair trial and treatment while under jail custody.
2) Sports, Cultural and Educational Programs - Upon ocular inspection of various jails around Metro Manila, it was noticed that most jail inmates are idle and bored. An idle mind can be a dangerous one and counterproductive as well. The Philippine Jaycees through its chapters donated chessboards during these initial visitations and the recipients gladly and warmly accepted the gifts.
3) Livelihood Projects - Karl Marx said that "work" is man's total expression of his "well-being and sense of self-purpose". The project will evaluate various livelihood projects that will help generate material, psychological and emotional benefits to the inmates. This will also include livelihood projects that will train family members and those who are already released to assimilate and integrate faster to the community. Implementation is tasked with all the JCI Philippines Local Organization (chapters around the country):
Key Mechanics
1) Each local organization will adopt-a-prison within its community or region and choose a time-bound, high-impact project based on any of the three strategies above-mentioned.
2) "Beyond the Prison Walls" will also raise funds nationally (through Phinma Corp.) and internationally (particularly, the Japan Jaycees) to provide the funding for the different chapters to initiate their adopt-a-jail project.
3) JCI Philippines with the help of other partners or sponsors will prepare brochures and posters on Human Rights Advocacy for the Accused, which will then be disseminated to the all the Jaycee chapters around the country and to all municipalities and cities with the help of DILG (BJMP) & Caritas, Manila.