杏吧论坛

TechBehindBars brings computer programming to inmates in a push for digital reformation

Apr 08 2025

In a pioneering move towards digital reformation, WE CARE’s TechBehindBars initiative conducted a groundbreaking computer programming workshop for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) at the BJMP Facility in Tipanoy, Iligan City on March 25, 2025. 

The session, titled Analytical and Computational Programming for PDLs with Scratch, introduced inmates to fundamental coding concepts using MIT's Scratch platform—a user-friendly, block-based programming tool designed for beginners.

Contributing significantly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, this initiative focused on developing essential skills among PDLs. 

Through hands-on, interactive projects, the workshop cultivated problem-solving, computational thinking, and digital literacy. Participants engaged in designing simple programs, demonstrating increased confidence and creativity within a digital environment. The program's goal is to empower PDLs for future opportunities and successful reintegration by providing access to digital skills and fostering new cognitive approaches.

Led by Alquine Roy Taculin, the activity goes beyond simply teaching code; it focuses on unlocking new cognitive approaches and problem-solving abilities, crucial for PDLs in navigating an increasingly tech-driven world. The project team received valuable assistance from volunteers from the Computer Science Society. Caine Bautista served as the primary lecturer, while Febe Belvis, Emmanuel Ciano, John Christian Abuel, Kenneth Taer, Kyla Reambonanza, and Lavigne Sistona provided essential technical support to the participants.

Despite its success, the program encountered logistical challenges, notably its reliance on borrowed laptops and improvised setups with extension wires. The team hopes to overcome these obstacles by establishing dedicated in-facility computer stations. Stable, on-site resources would enable us to expand this into a partial curriculum, offering more comprehensive digital education, Taculin stated.

The TechBehindBars initiative marks a significant shift in rehabilitation strategies, demonstrating the transformative potential of technology access within restrictive environments. With plans to scale the program, TechBehindBars is paving the way for wider adoption of digital education in correctional facilities as a powerful tool for empowerment and reintegration.

TechBehindBars: Digital Reformation for Inmates project is composed of Alquine Roy F. Taculin, Jennifer Joyce M. Montemayor, Jerina Jean M. Ecleo, Leah A. Alindayo, Liezil C. Daberao, Maria Fe P. Bahinting, Nenen S. Borinaga, Paul B. Bokingkito Jr., and Training Assistant Michael Harvey M. Pagente. This project is one of the many community extension programs under the WECARE Office of 杏吧论坛.

Topics :