St. Lucia
Seventeen inmates from Bordelais Correctional Facility (BCF) have completed a three-day soap-making workshop as the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) continues with its commitment to empower Saint Lucians.
[Image: BCF Inmates]
The soap-making workshop was initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in collaboration with Bordelais Correctional Facility and TaiwanICDF, and aimed to build capacity for the residents of BCF, while reducing dependence on purchasing soaps externally.
During the workshop, the participants – males and females – learned both theoretical and practical aspects of soap-making from facilitator, Ms. Kishma Louis, founder and owner of Elegante Claire Cosmetics. They were subsequently split into groups where they made soaps in a variety of designs and fragrances.
A short graduation ceremony was held at Bordelais Correctional Facility on Wednesday morning, November 27, 2024, where the participants were praised for their efforts and creativity. They also received certificates of completion and gift bags with samples of the soaps they made.
Taiwan’s Ambassador Congratulates Participants
H.E. Peter Chia-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, congratulated the 17 participants, stating that the workshop demonstrated their perseverance and determination.
"Developing new skills is a powerful way of personal growth, even within challenging circumstances," Ambassador Chen told the participants. "I believe that the knowledge and skills gained here could pave the way to new opportunities as everyone looks toward a brighter future."
Minister for Agriculture’s Remarks
Hon. Alfred Prospere, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, recounted his long professional journey which started when he became a labourer at the Forestry Department in 1986. He emphasized that acquiring the right skills set is essential to becoming successful.
"It all starts with a skill and that opportunity that is available to you, where you can learn something that would cause you to generate a reliable and sustainable income," said Hon. Prospere, who is also Parliamentary Representative for Dennery South. "When you have that skill, you can convert it into a viable business venture that can cause you to make money."
Next Steps
Hon. Prospere encouraged the inmates to come up with creative ways to convert the skills they learned during the workshop into viable business ventures. He noted that while they might not have the requisite funding and space to start their own businesses, they can partner with others who can provide those resources, including the Youth Economy Agency (YEA).
"There’s the Youth Economy Agency which you can reach out to with a proposal as to how you want to develop a soap-making venture in this very institution," Hon. Prospere advised the inmates. "I’m hoping that all seventeen of you are talking to each other and getting to a common understanding as to what are the next steps from here. I do not think that today’s graduation ceremony should be the end of what you learned, but how you convert what you learned into action and income generation."
Conclusion
The soap-making workshop is part of the "Enhancement of the Efficiency of Production-Distribution Supply Chain in Fruit and Vegetable Sector Project — Second Term", commonly known as the "Seven Crops Project". The objective of the Project is to strengthen Saint Lucia’s agricultural capacity building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the purpose of the soap-making workshop?
A: The workshop aimed to build capacity for the residents of BCF, while reducing dependence on purchasing soaps externally.
Q: Who initiated the workshop?
A: The Ministry of Agriculture and the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in collaboration with Bordelais Correctional Facility and TaiwanICDF.
Q: What was the outcome of the workshop?
A: The 17 participants learned both theoretical and practical aspects of soap-making and received certificates of completion and gift bags with samples of the soaps they made.
Q: What is the next step for the inmates?
A: The inmates are encouraged to come up with creative ways to convert the skills they learned into viable business ventures and partner with others who can provide the necessary resources.
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