COLUMBIA, S.C. — 16 women inmates graduated today from Camille Graham Correctional Institution with a certification in coding.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) in 2021 partnered with the national non-profit Preservere to teach the coding curriculum to inmates serving their time at the institution.
That's according to program manager Julie Landers.
"When you have a classroom full of women who likely have dealt with some trauma, abuse, all kinds of things that have told them that they aren't good enough, and we come in and we tell them that they are, and they get the skills to know that to be true. we are equipping them for a professional job that is male dominated and they're ready for it," Landers said.
Since the start of the program in 2021, the number of graduates has almost doubled in size and continues to teach inmates the value of STEM, career development, and., according to one of the graduates of the program, women's empowerment.
"I get to have this amazing life where it's not just about the struggling. Now, I can build a foundation and use tech to help make the world a better place, help other women that have been incarcerated for a long time," said Mallory who is an inmate and student of the program. "Just know that there's hope that their life is not over."
Landers says the excitement of the students has been an emotion she's seen throughout the program's two year existence.
"We watch people actually transform into folks who look in the mirror and like what they see," Landers said.
As for Mallory, she is said to be released in 2 weeks and is coming home with more than she came in with.
"I'm coming home. and I'm coming home to an amazing career and an amazing family, and I'm just ready to start living," she said.