State university’s special courses bring hope to Iligan inmates

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – In the confines of the Iligan City Jail-Male Dormitory (ICJMD), where the weight of incarceration can often overshadow aspirations for personal growth, a ray of hope shines through an unexpected avenue: the pursuit of knowledge and skill development.

Jess, who is awaiting court decisions on his violence against women and drug cases, has not lost hope. He dreams of a future beyond prison walls and has enrolled in an English literacy course offered to inmates...