JCI Philippines’ Flagship Project

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.

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):

A Philippine prison is probably the worst place one could be in. As if prison time wasn’t enough punishment for criminals (sometimes it isn’t), they would have to contend with terrible living conditions in Philippine prisons.

JCI Mandaue took one of JCI Philippines’ flagship projects, Beyond Prison Walls, to the confines of the Mandaue City Jail, where the JCI brothers brought fresh supplies of food, mattresses, medicines, and hope to the residents of the jail. This continues a trend that was re-ignited in 2009 to implement Beyond Prison Walls every year, after a short hiatus.

The previous Beyond Prison Walls implementation placed a special focus on livelihood development for the residents to prepare them for reintegration with society.