At 4:00 a.m., the semi-freedom and trust prisoners of the Izalco prison begin their work with a prayer in the prison farm, where they carry out agricultural work with various products that serve as the prison’s self-sufficiency.

After the prayer, the areas of the Zero Leisure plan receive their tools and move to the different work areas of the prison.

In the 35 areas where the prisoners work, instructed by the specialized personnel of prisons, they are assigned the activities that they must carry out that day as part of their rehabilitation process.

A commission is in charge of outdoor crops of corn and beans, while other inmates are dedicated to planting vegetables in each of the 12 mesh houses that this farm has. Also, there is an area where prisoners learn about caring for farm animals and at the same time acquire skills that will help them reintegrate into society.

In the Self-Sustaining Prison Farms, inmates grow, harvest, cook, and consume their own food.

Osiris Luna Meza, the director of Penitentiary Centers, explained that these types of activities occurred after the government of President Nayib Bukele took control of all of the country’s penitentiary centers and is now developing various reintegration and rehabilitation programs for the prison population, such as those established by international protocols.

“This is the transformation of the penitentiary system with the Government of President Nayib Bukele, where people with the will to change their lives learn different skills while serving their sentence, “said Luna Meza.

According to the director, the fact that prisons are self-sustaining creates savings, which also guarantees education for those deprived of liberty. He stressed that through the current system, inmates are given an opportunity to develop and become new people for each of their families and society.

The official added that with the Zero Leisure Plan, they maintain productivity both inside and outside the prisons, strengthening the skills of prisoners who have the will to transform their lives and develop their spirit of service.

He explained that inside prisons, there are programs and workshops where prisoners strengthen their skills while serving their sentences. Among them are: painting, carpentry, shoemaking, and baking.

Also, the interns acquire new skills in the workshops for making hammocks, serigraphy, printing, maquila, and many more.