This year's first volunteering experience

A couple of weeks ago, I initiated contact with the British Embassy in Bangkok with the purpose of organising a visit to a British detainee in Thailand. Last week, I stopped by in order to be talked through the procedure and we agreed on a date - April 29th. So this morning, shortly after breakfast, I went to the Bang Kwang Central Prison, a men's prison located on the outskirts of Bangkok.

When I got there, I did not manage to register to visit a British prisoner but I met Heather (a Canadian social justice activist who visits foreign male prisoners at Bang Kwang Prison on a daily basis) and, thanks to her precious help, managed to register to visit a Chinese detainee instead.

While waiting to have a conversation with Arote (that's the inmate's name), I bought him some food and made sure that my belongings were stored in a safe place. Soon enough, the authorisation for my visit came through and, after a security check, I got into the maximum security prison. Heather made sure to let me know who Arote was and, shortly afterwards, I picked up a phone, made sure it worked and sat down to talk to him.

I don't know why Arote is in prison; what I know is that he has been there for ten years and needs to stay for five more. He told me - in a very good English! - that his mother and sister never came for a visit (Heather later told me that this was due to his family's extreme poverty). He also told me that he spends his days exercising, talking to other inmates and watching movies on a very small screen TV - an activity he is particularly fond of. I mentioned that, if he likes movies so much, one of the first things he could do on the outside would be to go to the cinema! But he was too reluctant to talk about life after prison, which is totally understandable.

He did mention, however, that once on the outside he might need to get in touch with me in order to ask for a job. What I told him was that, if things continue like this, I might be the one in need to do that because, let's face it, China is a true economic miracle - there are lots of jobs to be found in the country - and, in view of the fact that he speaks fluent Chinese and English, he can easily find a job as a translator. I swear I saw hints of hope and pride in his eyes.

Shortly after this, one of the guards indicated to Arote that time was up and we said goodbye - in both English and Chinese. I took the food I had brought to another security point and waited for authorisation to leave the premises. Just before getting on the boat, which would bring us back to town, Heather and I decided to continue talking about the morning's experience over a drink (which turned into lunch!). And I was amazed by this woman's determination to make the lives of foreign prisoners in Thailand better. I wish her nothing but the best in the future. I also wish that Arote's burden is a little bit lighter today. Truly.