BANGKOK, Jan 13 (TNA) – Thailand’s Corrections Department has opened the country’s first “Chang Sip Mu” school within a prison, aiming to preserve traditional arts and provide inmates with skills for reintegration into society.
The school, located at the Thonburi Special Prison, is inspired by the royal initiative of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. It uses art as a means of rehabilitation, offering vocational training to inmates to help them rebuild their lives and prevent recidivism, while also giving them the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of Thai cultural heritage.
“Chang Sip Mu” refers to the “Ten Craftsmen,” a traditional classification of Thai artisans specializing in various disciplines such as painting, sculpture, wood carving, and metalwork. Products crafted by inmates have become popular as gifts for foreign dignitaries, raising the standard of prison vocational training to an international level.
The prison school offers training in all ten crafts. To date, 44 former inmates have successfully used their acquired skills to secure employment after their release. Currently, 300 inmates are undergoing training.
One former inmate, known by the nickname “Bom Prison Artist,” shared his experience. He learned drawing while incarcerated and now supports his family through his art.
He has also returned to the prison as a guest lecturer, providing guidance and essential equipment to fellow inmates as they prepare for their release and a new beginning.
“Spending time with art allows us to focus and reflect on our mistakes. This place does not only teach art but also teaches Dharma, meditation, conducting oneself to live with society,” he said. -819 (TNA)
