VOICED: Jailbirds: South African scheme offers new hope to inmates

The video discusses a unique prison program where inmates, including Bernard Mitchell, care for African grey parrots. This initiative, led by Vikas Grass, aims to reform inmates by fostering responsibility and empathy. Participants must abstain from gangs, smoking, and drugs, and in return, they receive individual cells. The program has positively impacted inmates, reducing tensions and encouraging personal growth. Mitchell, serving a life sentence, has found solace and purpose in caring for the birds, which has helped him quit smoking and drugs. The program's success is evident in the behavioral changes observed in participants, and there is hope that these skills will aid their reintegration into society upon release.

What impact does the parrot program have on the inmates' relationships with the wardens?

What changes have been observed in Bernard Mitchell since he started raising birds?