Prisoners will be taught handicrafts

Prisoners serving jail terms in the Kingdom will be given training in handicrafts to enable them to secure a decent living on their release.
The National Program for Handicraft, a flagship program of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), recently signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Prisons General Department (PGD) and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) to train prisoners on how to produce handicrafts.
“The memorandum of uynderstanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of Prince Sultan bin Salman, SCTA president, Rashid bin Mohammad Al Zahrani, deputy governor of TVTC, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim bin Mohammad Al Hamza, director general of PGD and Jasir bin Sulaiman Al-Harbash, general supervisor of the national program for handicrafts,” an SCTA official said Thursday.
The official added that the MoU seeks to incorporate handicrafts training programs in the Kingdom’s prisons, in addition to developing prisoners’ skills to enable them to train their colleagues. The MoU also stipulates that the three parties cooperating on the initiative will undertake the responsibility of marketing the prisoners’ products.
The agreement aims to secure job opportunities for prisoners who complete the training and reward them with cash prizes on their release.
The training program will enable prisoners to acquire financial support for future endeavors once they complete their jail terms and encourage charitable associations as well as voluntary and nongovernmental organizations to provide training courses to prisoners.
At the end of the signing ceremony, the director general of PGD presented a commemorative gift to Prince Sultan representing a portrait made by one of the prisoners illustrating Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense.
The official indicated that the SCTA has recently concluded a tourism awareness program for members of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia).
The educational and training programs fall under the partnership between the SCTA and CPVPV, which aims to enhance cooperation and coordination between the parties.