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The penal colony of Iwahig

Palawan is one of the most beautiful islands of the Philippines. Famous for its virgin forest, which has managed to remain intact, it is also renowned for its prison: the penal colony of Iwahig.

The penal colony holds more then 8000 men, condemned to life imprisonment or long term sentences. Many of them don't move off the island once their sentence is finished. Often used as an example throughout the world, this penitentiary has no fences, no walls to limit its thousand of acres.The prisoners, organized in sub-colonies, fish, grow rice, coconuts or work on handicrafts.

Among them, 80 convicts were followed by their families. But their income, of around $2 does not allow them to send their children to school on a regular basis.

Alexandre, a friend of Alouette Foundation, is an anthropologist working on a film on Iwahig and has informed Alouette of the situation of these children. Alouette has therefore decided to help them by finding sponsors.

We are also working on finding computers and organizing courses to give the prisoners computer skills and help with their reinsertion.