Teacher Ai, a 26-year-old PDL at Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, never thought of herself as a teacher. She hadn’t completed college, let alone earned a degree in education. Her life had been one of hardships, wrong choices, and unfortunate events that led her to prison. When she volunteered to help as an assistant ALS teacher, she did it as an opportunity to do something positive, unaware of the impact this new role would have on her and the others she would eventually support.
The training, “Building Readers, Changing Lives,” initially seemed overwhelming to Teacher Ai. She had doubts—she wasn’t a teacher, and she had no experience. But as the sessions began, she was drawn in. She learned about practical techniques for teaching reading to those who couldn’t even recognize letters, strategies for helping them sound out words, and methods to make learning meaningful, even in their confined setting.
One day after the training, Teacher Ai met a learner struggling to read—a young woman who had never held a book before entering prison. As Teacher Ai went through the exercises they had practiced, the woman slowly began to read her first words. Witnessing this, Teacher Ai felt something shift inside her. She realized the training she attended wasn’t about perfecting teaching skills; it was about changing lives—both hers and her learner’s. Helping someone open the door to reading was a small victory, but Teacher Ai could see how it sparked hope and pride in her peer. It gave her a sense of purpose she hadn’t felt in years.
Teacher Ai understood that her role wasn’t just about imparting skills. She was bringing empowerment and confidence to people who felt broken and disconnected from society. Her learner’s progress, no matter how small, reminded her that everyone deserves a second chance, and she, too, was learning to be patient, kind, and resilient.
Teacher Ai now embraces her role as a mentor with newfound passion. She sees it as a way to give back, build connections, and help others see a future beyond prison walls. She may not have a teaching degree, but to her learners, she is a lifeline, helping them find their voices and believe in the possibilities ahead. And for Teacher Ai, this experience has become her own journey toward healing, one word at a time.