Not PDL Anymore, but College Students

93 PDL students transferred to their new dorm inside the College Education Behind Bars' (CEBB) new facility at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Davao del Norte. Before, only a small percentage of people have been able to get college degrees in prison. That’s about to change. Prison education is about hope for a better self and hope for a better life. An opportunity to go to college in prison allows PDL to relax and focus their energy solely on preparing for the day they return home. Education breaks down lifelong barriers by opening new ways of thinking and of performing. Many of PDL have come from small, tightly-knit communities from which they never ventured far. Getting into a college program in prison is a big hurdle, but remaining motivated to stay in college is higher. SETBI's team helps them overcome those many barriers. College Education Behind Bars is at the heart of all of SETBI’s work.

Since 2016, CEBB has been working to provide incarcerated women and men participating in college study programs with a team of supportive and engaged mentors. We currently have over 40  volunteer mentors from throughout the Philippines and internationally. These dedicated mentors share not only their time but also their hearts as they connect to and mentor our students, primarily helping them to believe in themselves, in their ability to change the trajectory of their lives, and in having a real hope for a positive and productive future. The powerful relationships and bonds that develop between CEBB mentors and students inside equally impact our teachers .These long term relationships bridge communities and develop understanding and awareness while creating powerful, lasting transformative connections.