~Give gifts to inmates, prison guards~
POINTE BLANCHE:--- The importance of love, kindness, giving and preserving the environment was among a host of information the St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation shared with inmates of the Pointe Blanche and Simpson Bay Prisons during separate visits on Saturday and Sunday December 28 and 29.
Tzu Chi also presented gift bags to the 153 inmates and 37 prison guards at the two facilities.
A total of 23 volunteers visited the two prisons, which is part of an annual exercise of the St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation. The gift bags contained an exercise book, reading book, pen, toothbrush, towel, soap, noodle soup, snack and water.
Volunteers had already visited and presented gifts and fans to inmates in the detention cells at the Philipsburg Police Station earlier in the month and shared positive messages to inmates there as well.
The visits to the Pointe Blanche and Simpson Bay Prisons were lively with inmates interacting with volunteers and absorbing the information shared.
At Pointe Blanche, inmates were given information about Tzu Chi's history and the importance of preserving the environment, going green and eating healthy. Several videos were shown including one of last year's visit to the facilities, Tzu Chi's work in the community over the past year and videos about environmental preservation, going green and eating healthy.
Volunteers also performed a skit depicting the value of love. Volunteers also performed the "Strength of Love" sign language which inmates followed with keen interest. Similar activities were held during the visit to the Simpson Bay prison.
A number of inmates at both facilities said they had been touched by the visit, which some described as educational. Some expressed interest in joining Tzu Chi once released.
At Simpson Bay, a group of inmates presented gifts to prison guards on behalf of Tzu Chi.
Tzu Chi Commissioners Sandra Cheung, Wing Cheung, Rolex Cheung and Yamile Bastidas along with volunteers were happy to have gotten the opportunity to visit the prisons and share some positive messages with inmates, while spreading some holiday cheer.