VOICED : Portugals prisons dig deep for food bank needy

In Portuguese prisons, inmates participate in garden cooperatives, growing fruits and vegetables for food banks. This initiative not only aids those in need but also helps prisoners develop skills and habits beneficial for reintegration into society. The program is expanding, with more prisons adopting the model, aiming to enhance both inmate rehabilitation and community support.

What activity are the prisoners in Leria, Portugal, involved in?

• Making crafts

• Teaching classes

• Growing fruit and vegetables

• Building furniture

How many prisons in Portugal have introduced vegetable garden cooperatives?

• Three

• Six

• Nine

• Twelve

What is the primary purpose of the vegetables grown by inmates?

• To sell in markets

• To export to other countries

• To feed prison staff

• To donate to food banks

What is one of the benefits for inmates participating in the gardening initiative?

• Earning a salary

• Developing good work habits

• Learning new languages

• Traveling outside the prison

What is the future goal for the prison vegetable garden initiative?

• To expand it to every prison in the country

• To make it a private enterprise

• To reduce the number of prisons involved

• To focus only on fruit production