Within the grounds of the Changi Prison Complex is a space where the smell of freshly baked bread offers a slice of normality to the inmates who prepare it.

In rainy weather On a November afternoon, AsiaOne popped into Yellow Ribbon Bakery, a subsidiary of Yellow Ribbon Singapore, to see first-hand how this initiative works during their busy annual Christmas sale.

Walking into the bakery for the first time, the atmosphere was one of quiet determination. Heads bowed, eyebrows furrowed, the bakers worked with concentration, preparing each batch with care.

In the middle of this On the beat, we chatted with one of the bakers Alex*, who talked about what landed him in prison and his dream of one day owning his own home-based baking business.

How he ended up behind bars

In 2016, Alex was sentenced to 25 years in prison for drug trafficking.

He remained tight-lipped when asked to say more about his relationship with drugs at the time.

Before his incarceration, he worked as a technical officer in the shipyard sector.

Alex, now 49, mentioned that his financial struggles ultimately led him down a path he now regrets.

Although initially reluctant to reveal more, he eventually opened up, saying: “I didn’t earn much. I had a family to feed, a house, a dog and a car to pay for.”

As despair set in and there was no one to turn to for help, the medication gave Alex a “sense of relief,” even if it was only temporary.

Additionally, his relationship with his then-wife was on the verge of breakdown and their marriage collapsed when he was arrested.

“After the divorce, I had no contact with my ex-wife or my son. My only support now comes from my mother and my brothers and sisters,” he added.

In fact, Alex’s mother was unaware of his drug dealings.

He says: “When she learned of my arrest, she collapsed. She didn’t know what to do.”

Christianity changed him

Alex seemed isolated at the start of his prison sentence.

How can we accept the reality that the next 25 years will be spent behind bars?

While his fellow inmates spent time in the yard participating in activities, he chose to stay in his cell, withdrawn and disconnected.

This pattern of self-isolation continued until a crucial moment of introspection changed Alex’s perspective, triggered by a conversation he had with a fellow inmate, whom he considered a friend , two years into his prison sentence.

He recalls: “This friend scolded me saying that if I continue like this I will suffer throughout my prison sentence.

“I can’t continue as I am. Since this (incarceration) is fixed and I can’t change it, I should try to move forward.”

It wasn’t an immediate transformation, but with the support of his fellow inmates, Alex began to engage with life behind bars. and began attending Christian counseling sessions in 2018.

A former freethinker, he had initially joined these counseling sessions with an open mind and found a new faith.

“Christianity has changed me. After attending these counseling sessions, I feel like a peaceful person,” Alex said.

These sessions provided him with space to open up, and through their teachings, Alex shared that he had become a changed individual.

He described his past as moody, impulsive and irresponsible – a stark contrast to the calm, assured person he met that day.

His newfound faith also allowed him to better deal with the mistakes he made in the past.

When asked to describe Christianity in a single sentence, he responded: “Forgive, but do not forget.” »

“Christianity taught me to forgive others for what they did to me and to forgive myself for hurting others. I hope the Lord will forgive my sins.”

While many of his Christian brothers and sisters will commemorate December 25 with festivities surrounded by loved ones, Alex’s Christmas will be sweeter.

He recalled the holidays of yesteryear before his imprisonment and said: “Christmas is all about the food, the turkey, the ham and, of course, the pastries. I miss everything.”

Christmas pastries for a good cause

For inmates like Alex, the goal is social reintegration after their release.

To achieve this, you first need a successful job.

Learning practical skills while serving time is essential, and that’s where Yellow Ribbon Bakery comes into play.

The halal-certified artisan bakery offers inmates the opportunity to learn baking skills to enhance their employability in the food and beverage (F&B) industry.

Head baker Thurston Arlando, 33, said the Yellow Ribbon Bakery welcomes any inmate interested in learning a new skill.

On-the-job training begins in the main line of the bakery and once newcomers have a basic understanding of the processes, they can be funneled into different sections such as confectionery and artisan bread.

To avoid overburdening bakers, a conscious effort is made to “go slow” with training because individuals learn at different rates, Thurston said.

He added: “The most important thing is that they learn through this process.”

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Alex joined the bakery program in November 2022, after expressing interest in catering.

For him, it wasn’t just about wanting to learn a new life skill or increase his employability.

“I’ll be quite old (after I’m released), so I think getting hired might be a problem,” Alex admitted.

Using his time productively behind bars also helps him prepare for the future, with the ultimate goal being to start his own home-based baking business.

“If everything goes well, I would of course like to have my own store or outlet,” he added.

In the meantime, Alex is focusing on developing his baking skills and plans to eventually delve into the world of cakes.

“I would prefer cakes because they are sweeter. You can have a lot of decorations and play with them,” he said.

Currently part of the craft department at Yellow Ribbon Bakery, Alex has experience in baking a variety of treats, from brownies to gingerbread cookies.

Coming from someone who has no prior baking experience, you’d think he’d list his cooking skills among his most valuable learning points at the bakery.

Instead, he chose to share more about the mentoring side of Yellow Ribbon Bakery.

“They really help me a lot and it’s not just about cooking. It’s also about learning teamwork, leadership and getting better at everything you do,” Alex said .

While the annual Christmas sales are over, Chinese New Year is fast approaching and the bakery will soon be offering a new batch of festive treats on its website.

Rebuild links

Alex has seen his relationship with his immediate family deteriorate since his imprisonment, and establishing a fresh start for his future includes correcting the mistakes of his past.

“I have to learn to forgive myself. I think I hurt my ex-wife and my son. Now they don’t visit me anymore and maybe this is (my) revenge,” he reflected .

At the moment, there is no question of reconnecting with his ex-wife, but Alex remains hopeful that he will one day be able to reconnect with his son, now 21 years old.

The only time her son visited her was in February 2016.

When asked to describe his son’s personality, Alex had difficulty answering.

He finally said: “Actually, sad to say, nothing. I’m not very close to my son so I don’t remember much.”

For now, he will have to wait until his release to see if their relationship is beyond repair.

Compared to his early days in prison, this represents a remarkable change for Alex.

Besides the fact that Christianity helped him find his place, he also attributes this change in attitude to an inmate – the same person who persuaded him to come out of his cell.

Now they are housed in separate groups within the prison complex.

When asked what he would say to his friend if he had the chance, Alex paused before responding: “Thank you very much, dear friend.

“You truly brought me out of the darkness and into the light.”

*A pseudonym has been used to conceal the identity of the individual.

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