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Prison Program Case Studies: Success stories

Finding A New Direction: Youth In Juvenile Home Enjoying A Session

Overview

Our first instinct when we meet a juvenile offender is to start the blame chain: the child, the parents, friends, surroundings and so on. The child is then abandoned in a home to fight his own destiny.

The Art of Living Prison SMART Program reaches out to juvenile offenders through a unique and practically designed program that addresses their level of understanding and maturity.

“I never knew that you had a kind of sports for the inside. It relaxes so much.” - Khodr, Lebanon

There are no quick–fix solutions to problems, no theories or concepts but only practical tools, which can help them to understand and deal with their own lives better.

During the Juvenile program sessions youth are encouraged to become aware of their inner potential and talents. They are taught to make the most of the moment and encouraged to think positively.

Several juvenile prisons around the world have popularly adopted the Prison SMART program as a successful rehabilitation program for inmates. It has been very successful in almost all countries like Bahrain, Lebanon, Philippines, Kosovo, South Africa, Canada, USA and India.

A survey with 41 party – drug users, shows that their drug usage and stress level was greatly reduced one week after the completion of the course. “I started using alcohol and hashish at the age of 15, but it continued very quickly into amphetamine, ecstasy, Rohypnol and more”, says Marius (20). But now, Marius is happy that he dropped this habit. “People think they will become happy if they get the nicest house and the coolest car. But happiness comes from within”, he adds.

LOS ANGELES

The County of Los Angeles Probational Department contains the largest Juvenile Detention Centre in the world. The county established the Violence Alternative Program (VAP), and given the success achieved by the Prison SMART Program across the country, it was included as a component of the VAP.

Prison-Program - Kenya

Kamiti Prison Program March 2010 we conducted the first Prison SMART course in Kamiti, the maximum security...More

Prison-Program - South Africa

Prison Stress Management and Rehabilitation Training (SMART) The Prison SMART program has been taught...More

Prison - Philippines

Bringing The Art of Living Course to the New Bilibid Prison could very well be the best thing that happened...More

Prison - Morocco

On the 15th of January 2007, we conducted the first Prison SMART course in Morrocco thanks to the efforts...More

Prison SMART in Tihar Jail

Tihar Jail The Prison SMART program was introduced in Tihar Jail in 1999. More than 120,000 inmates...More

Giving Direction to Young Inmates

“I never felt my breath this light before in my whole life. Today, I am feeling so much peace and...More

The Art of Living Programs at The Dominican Republic's New Model Prisons

The Art of Living Foundation has recently signed an agreement with the Dominican Republic’s...More

Prisoner rehabilitation in Taiwan

Since 2004, The Art of Living’s Prison Smart Program has found its roots in five correctional facilities...More

Wedding bells in a Belgian prison

After a life-altering Prison SMART workshop, trials, tribulations and bombardment of affection, Marco...More

The gift of a yoga mat

At the outset of a prisoner rehabilitation course in Peru’s Piedras Gordas Prison, the prisoners...More

Smiling Uniforms

It is rare to see a smiling, calm and an energetic policeman (women included) on the streets of India. But,...More

Sultan of Swings Settles Deep Within

Its 3 o clock in the afternoon. He had been planning and waiting for this day since almost three weeks....More

Videos

Testimonials

Veena Ravjee

The satisfaction that you get from seeing that you have changed a person’s life - brought them hope and happiness;a reason to make their life meaningful again - that satisfaction is priceless.

Ebrahim Jassat, PRISON S.M.A.R.T Trainer

A story from Serowe Prison in Botswana.The course was in a tent and during long Sudarshan Kriya it started raining. Water came through a hole in the tent and a group of prisoners were drenched through and through but they continued with Soo Hum without opening their eyes or moving to get out of the rain. Later on they said rain was a blessing in their country and they felt very blessed.

Dusko M (19, Turopolje, Juvenile)

I was looking for peace, for self control. I feel I’ve improved after the course. It’s good at the course! Two hours at the course make me relaxed throughout the day.

Jenthe, 16 years

Every day is beautiful. I have learned to find inner peace and to accept myself as I am.

Francisco, Inmate

Even through life’s challenges, a person can be elegant and purposeful, without guilt – that is my desire. Thanks for a way to achieve this.

Khodr, Lebanese Juvenile Prison

I never knew that you had a kind of sports for the inside. It relaxes so much.

Femke, 17 years

It was fun doing this with all of our class. Certainly worth repeating!

Ashok Choudhary, State Minister, Home (Jail) Dept

In the bitterness and monotony that surrounds the life of a jail inmate, The Art of Living Foundation has given the inmates an opportunity to vent their emotions and cleanse their psyche

Mahide, 18 years

I now know how to de-stress and keep my nerves under control. I also know that it's not about what you do but that it's about the way you are.

Debbie
Inmate
It’s a fantastic course! I feel more calm, peaceful, and ready to deal with what life has in store for me. I feel my depression lifting, and I have a new way of looking at things.

Krystale
Inmate
This course has been a very beneficial experience. Emotional, and physical pain have both disappeared, helping me return to the happy, joyful Krystale that I used to be. I am smoking less cigarettes and am no longer relying on iron tablets to re-energize myself.

Karina

The course is life changing and it has done many wonders for me in such a short time. I have found that I haven’t complained about things or anyone. People who have terrible vicious tongues for backstabbing and gossip no longer upset me or play on my mind. My mind is calm and clear. I have quit smoking and look forward to future changes to come. I would recommend this to many of my friends.

Marko (16,Turopolje,Juvenile)

I sleep better ,and I am going to continue practice everything learnt here.

Bajram G, (18,Turopolje ,Juvenile)

I came to the course because I wanted to do more with my life. I used to like making trouble fighting. But now I feel the difference in my communication. I am happy.

Juvenile Prison

It was a big cycle. The more I partied, the more drugs I used to take and the more I needed to get high each time.

Bilal, Lebanese Juvenile Prison

Thank you for the relief I got especially for my neck pain.

Karina

The course is life changing + has done many wonders for me in such short time. I have found that I haven’t complained about things or anyone. People who have terrible vicious tongues for backstabbing and gossip no longer upset me or play on my mind. My mind is calm and clear. No longer smoking + look forward to future changes to come. I would recommend this to many of my friends.

Nalibu, Savenaca

I’m slowly recovering from mental stress and depression. I sleep well at night now. My health is good and I am feeling really well. I have reduced my smoking from 6 rolls to 2 rolls a day. Good progress. Thank you

Wayne, New Zealand

I have not felt so secure within myself before, giving my situation of being in prison. The course is very beneficial for health. A lot of old aches and pains gone. Before the course I was a bit miserable. Now I feel doubly secure and three times as capable and feel content.