Produce quality handicrafts. Manokwari Government ready to promote inmates’ Handicrafts. The government of Manokwari Regency, West Papua, is ready to promote handicrafts made by convicts. More precisely, the creative creations of the Manokwari Class IIB Penitentiary inmates.
The seriousness of the Manokwari District Government in promoting the convicts’ handicrafts is evident from the steps taken by the government. Recently, the Manokwari Regency Government collaborated with the Youth and Sports Tourism Office to realize this activity.
On Saturday, April 8, 2023, the Manokwari Class IIB Prison Management and the Tourism, Youth, and Sports Office signed an agreement as a first step. This agreement is an agreement that regulates the cooperation of both parties in utilizing handicrafts made by convicts.
The Regent of Manokwari Hermus Indou, Deputy Regent Edi Budyo, and Head of the Correctional Division of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights Dannie Firmansyah witnessed the signing of the cooperation by Immanuel H. Pangariban and Jumadi.
Having typical Papuan cultural motifs, the works produced by these convicts are believed to have good economic value. With this agreement, the government will promote the works of these convicts in the tourism and Small and Medium Enterprise sectors.
Immanuel H Pangariban, Head of the Youth and Sports Tourism Office, emphasized that this is an actual act of government support. The first is a form of support to help convicts progress in exploring their creativity. The second is supporting the local tourism sector in providing typical Papuan souvenirs.
Furthermore, the Head of Class IIB, Manokwari Prison, Jumadi, and the government have created a unique gallery. This particular gallery functions as a place where the works of convicts are exhibited. With this gallery, the government hopes to distribute the prisoners’ handicrafts to the general public directly.
Collaboration to Reduce Plastic Use in Papua Province
This partnership is not only helping to sustain the inmates’ handicrafts of Manokwari Class IIB Penitentiary in West Papua. Moreover, it is also a part of the efforts being made by the local government to limit the amount of waste plastic.
The assisted residents will start making Noken, a net bag typical of the Papuan people made of bark. With the production of Noken from assisted residents, Papuans can reduce the use of plastic in the Papua region. Apart from that, by producing Noken from convicts, the government can also fulfill the demand for Noken from modern retail.
In addition to establishing an agreement to utilize the handicrafts produced by the convicts, prisons also make other collaborations. In detail, the Correctional Institution is also collaborating with Islamic residential schools. The signature is related to the provision of teaching staff for Muslim detainees.
Crafts made by Class IIB Manokwari Convicts
You need to know one of the convict empowerment activities while in prison is making handicrafts. For class IIB Manokwari prison itself, making handicrafts is an activity that inmates routinely carry out.
In detail, Class IIB Manokwari Prison inmates will make handicrafts from wood waste and used cardboard. From the wood and cardboard waste, the inmates make various miniature crafts. The miniature crafts they produce are tiny houses, small sailing ships, carvings, and key chains.
In 2022, the incumbent Head of Class II B Manokwari Prison, Yulius Paath, ensured that the handicrafts of the convicts were of good quality. According to Yulius Paath, the quality of the work of convicts at Class II B Manokwari Prison has a sale value as a souvenir.
In sum, handmade goods’ prices vary depending on the dimensions of the corresponding keepsake. Related to the program that Manokwari Government ready promote inmates’ handicrafts, the most expensive price ranges from IDR 250.000.
