Prisoners at the Scotland Correctional Institution in Laurinburg, North Carolina are making their lives more meaningful by contributing to the society. Around 23 prisoners at the institution have been trained in transcribing books into Braille for blind students and adults.

Even though they are behind bars, these prisoners are able to make a positive difference in the world that will change their own lives forever.

Teachers, as well as crisis centres in Wyoming, Connecticut, Colorado, and North Carolina, have requested for the Braille books. Most of the books are educational texts on science, math, and music and require a team of six translators to complete.

While it takes 8 to 12 months to learn regular Braille, it can take years to become adept at transcribing music. Braille translators are always in high demand, therefore, when the prisoners will be released they will have this skill which will help them to get a job. Hence their possibility to re-offend is very low. This programme has recorded a high success rate as noted in the dozens of institutions with such programs in the US.

Plant manager Cynthia Stubbs disclosed in an interview that the prisoners are very dedicated and they enjoy what they do and they know how it feels to be responsible for the child holding a Braille book in the classroom.

The inmates are glad that they are now in a position to give back. In 2016 alone, the Braille Transcribing Plant translated over 1,000 books for blind citizens.