Laundry helps inmate sort out life

The rehabilitation journey can be hard but also meaningful for some. It can offer opportunities for learning and personal development for many individuals. That is the case for 45-year-old Jessy, incarcerated for three years at Archambault Institution in Quebec.

Jessy worked hard to improve his life and prepare for a successful community reintegration. He began working in the CORCAN vocational training program offered by the institution in the laundry services shop. Although he was hesitant at first and not very confident in his abilities, he was highly motivated to learn and try something new, such as industrial laundry services.

Vocational training programs build skills

“Vocational training programs are there to help inmates acquire the skills they need to find work and succeed upon their release,” said Louise, an instructor with nine years of experience in the shop. Louise expressed that Jessy was one of the inmates who completed his semi-skilled trades training as a laundry worker and machine operator. Jessy completed 375 hours of practical work and 100 hours of academic labour market training to receive his certification.

Every day in the laundry facilities was different and outside of Jessy’s institutional routine. The daily challenges of the laundry shop in Archambault Institution made it a new and appealing experience. Working on several projects and large industrial laundry machines, Jessy took on piles of dirty laundry. He practised sorting, washing, learned how to efficiently dry, press, and fold clothes using various equipment, such as the tunnel washer, dryers, and the ironer.

To Jessy, the experience was fulfilling. “My days in the institution are never the same, and that is very important for my self-esteem and my development.”

Through this program, Jessy gained the necessary skills needed in the laundry shop. Louise was impressed with Jessy’s determination and desire to learn. The program gave Jessy a sense of self-confidence and a belief that his efforts would pay off, as he began to see the value of his skills and his potential as a citizen.

“I learned to be patient and to manage my emotions when things did not go as expected, but also show perseverance and finish everything I started,” says Jessy. “I also learned to listen more and communicate more effectively with others.”

The instructors were always a key source of support throughout his training. They gave him advice and enabled him to discover the trade through his willingness to learn, trusting in his abilities, and his talents. Jessy is thankful for their support and encouragement and admits that he could not have succeeded without them.

“They helped me discover my potential, gain self esteem, and not give up but stay with it to the end. I know I can succeed outside these walls thanks to what I have learned here,” says Jessy.

Preparing to meet job standards

Each offender working in the CORCAN laundry shop gets assessed every 125 hours worked to see the progress they have made on each task the job requires. Jessy was assessed three times and he became more aware of his strengths and the progress he had made. Each offender works in their unit on an exercise called “managing your interactions at work” which is also evaluated during their assessment.

“His interest, involvement, and determination to overcome the fear of not being up to operating the machinery helped him obtain this diploma,” Louise says. The semi-skilled trade training certificate that was obtained by Jessy can help him gain jobs in operation of heavy equipment and is recognized by employers. “It is an important achievement for him that opens up new opportunities to obtain other accreditations.”

Jessy’s commitment to his future is exemplary. He shows qualities that will help him meet the standards and values of any job. Importantly, Jessy has learned how to behave as a responsible citizen once released into the community.

“I like being consistent and remaining engaged. I can succeed in anything and do anything since completing this program because I have confidence in myself and sincerely believe that, even if I do not work in this field, I have acquired excellent experience that will be useful when I get out,” he said.

After receiving his diploma, Jessy pursued other accreditations, including the joint Association for Occupational Health and Safety in Construction competency card, a forklift operator’s card, and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) certification. Jessy’s instructor noted that he was serious and motivated, approaching each task as if he were working outside the institution. That attitude was beneficial for his personal development.

Jessy’s success in this vocational training program is an example of the power of learning and determination. Vocational training programs are an important opportunity for inmates to learn practical skills, develop their self confidence, and prepare for a successful community reintegration.

“Through the CORCAN Program, our objective at Archambault Institution is to offer offenders more skilled training per year and to provide real value for a successful reintegration,” concludes Louise.

Initially, Jessy wasn’t certain about becoming a laundry worker outside the institution. However, since his release, started a job at a laundry facility in Victoriaville, Quebec.

As the instructor noted, Jessy is an example to all offenders in the institution. His story is a source of inspiration for others. It shows that, with effort, interest and mutual assistance, anyone can change their life and aspire to a better future.