Stories of redemption

Redemption on the railway network The memorandum of understanding I redeem myself for the future signed in July 2022 between the Ministry of Justice and the Italian State Railways becomes operational, which provides paths designed to promote the social reintegration of prisoners. Five inmates imprisoned in the Milan Opera prison have been hired, with six-month fixed-term contracts, by the Italian Railway Network and Trenitalia. They were selected under the supervision of the supervisory judiciary and identified together with human resources representatives of the FS Group companies. After a training course, three of them were assigned to the service with RFI respectively in the roles of blue room attendant, for assistance services to travelers with reduced mobility, support attendant for the station contact person and support staff attendant. vocational school training. The other two work in Trenitalia, as employees of the plant's technical secretariat. The company will soon evaluate whether to propose the renewal of the current fixed-term contract for another six months, as provided for in the agreement (the maximum limit is 12 months in total). The goal is now to extend the project to other institutes.

Redemption through the garden Just under twenty years ago, an uncultivated state land of about two hectares, invaded by waste and populated by wild animals, surrounded the then new Barcaglione prison in Ancona. After ten years, the construction of a farm began which now thrives with over three hundred olive trees, a sheepfold, an apiary, a dairy, an oil mill, a greenhouse where fruit and vegetables are grown. The development of this farm where prisoners work was possible thanks to the help of retired Coldiretti tutors. An important contribution was also offered by the Marche regional administration and the Prisoners' Guarantor. A team effort implemented with the support of the Social Agriculture Protocol signed in 2021. At the beginning, the garden products, oil and honey were intended for internal consumption in the penitentiary institution and the excess redistributed to needy families in the area. With the increase in production, the opportunity was created to open a small shop near the prison, thus expanding the "customer base". At the Barcaglione Farm, inmates learn to grow olive trees and vegetables, raise sheep and bees, and produce oil, milk and cheese. The company recently joined the Campagna Amica network and participates in farmers' markets with its products.


Chiara Genisio
NP January 2024