The aim of this commitment was to offer its young inmates a variety of experiences: educational, cultural, recreational and sports alongside principles and values to form them as good citizens.
Twelve young people and adults of the Salesian Youth Ministry and the Salesian Youth Volunteers of the Mexico-Guadalajara Province, with volunteers from across the country, carried out the visits. The entire team worked hard to serve over thirty boys and girls, aged 14 to 22, detained in the COCYDEJ. With the minors, they organized workshops for theater, painting, decoration, cooking, recreational games, sports and talks wherein they shared positive values. The last day ended with a moment of fraternity.
At activities' end, the young detainees shared some of their impressions: "Thank you for coming. We hope you come back very soon." "Thanks for everything. I laughed a lot and spent time with my comrades in a different way." "Thanks for having treated us for what we are: human beings, not criminals."
"I would have liked to stay with them longer,” said a volunteer. “I liked it and this experience has helped me in every way, but above all: to be a better person." Many volunteers also stated they wished to return to visit the COCYDEJ soon, or to plan a project that could be implemented in the COCYDEJ throughout the year.
The greatest lesson the volunteers learned was from the words of one of the boys in prison: "Thank you for treating us as human beings and not as criminals."
