ILOILO CITY — Nineteen persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at a local detention center are taking a bold step toward education, enrolling in a college-level entrepreneurship program that brings hope and opportunity inside the jail walls.

Through the Education Behind Bars initiative of Project HOPE (Holistic Opportunities through People’s Empowerment), inmates can now pursue a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship, gaining skills to prepare them for life beyond prison.

The program is run by the University of Antique, in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology Western Visayas and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

For many participants, this marks their first step into higher education.

“When a person is imprisoned, self-worth sometimes suffers,” said University of Antique president Dr. Pablo Crespo Jr. “But this project gives PDLs another light of hope — that even while deprived of liberty, they can work, learn, and become useful members of society.”

Weekends come alive with face-to-face classes led by University of Antique instructors. Inside an air-conditioned learning hub equipped with computers and internet access, students attend lectures, participate in discussions, and work on hands-on business planning.

The academic track complements other income-generating components of Project HOPE inside the facility, including a gardening initiative and a bakery operation earning P30,000 to P50,000 monthly.

BJMP San Jose de Buenavista Jail Officer Robert John Martinez said 26 PDLs originally enrolled; the number now stands at 19 after seven were released, with one continuing studies at the University of Antique campus.

The first graduates are set to don their caps and gowns in 2028. Officials say the program aims to build confidence, nurture job-ready skills, and smooth the transition to society upon release.

For these 19 PDLs, rehabilitation now goes beyond reflection — it’s a real academic journey toward a college degree.