Inmates of the Maesa detention center (Rutan) in Palu, Central Sulawesi, are given the chance to develop real-world skills through a poultry farming program that recently welcomed survivors of last year’s devastating earthquake and tsunami.

Calling themselves the Bui (Prison) Squad volunteers, the inmates had invited survivors to join the husbandry learning center to learn about breeding chickens and running a chicken farm.

The program currently tends to about 300 chickens that will be sold at a local market in the next two weeks, according to Bui Squad coordinator Nudin Lasahido.

Proceeds of the sale will be divided between inmate volunteers and participating survivors, most of whom are from Petobo subdistrict.

“Inmates have limited moving space. They need to be encouraged to do positive and productive things so that upon their release, they will have something to do to improve their lives,” Nudin said, adding that the program was now open for anyone wanting to learn about chicken farming.

He added that Maesa’s learning center aimed at empowering its participants’ economy.

The center’s mentor, inmate Muhammad Isjal who has an undergraduate degree in animal husbandry, said that after two months of learning together, the center has received a good response from both fellow inmates and survivors.

“Breeding chickens is not as complicated as you may think. It’s very easy,” Isjal said.

The idea of establishing the Bui Squad of volunteers came from Nudin, following a string of natural disasters that struck the province in September last year. The volunteers are under the supervision of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).