A world that is greatly out of balance, including in matters of health, is neither stable nor secure. As one of the most neglected health crises in the world, the global vision crisis most critically affects the low and middle income countries. Committed to helping restore vision, and thus transform lives for the underprivileged, we dispensed reading glasses to the “people deprived of liberty” (PDL) at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, formerly the Davao Penal Colony, on January 20, 2023. This annual outreach program of Minority Care International (MCI) was the eleventh distribution of glasses to improve recipients’ vision and to give free eye check-ups to economically struggling communities. This year MCI saw the need for eye health for the PDL in Davao Prison and Penal Farm.In the past, MCI has distributed more than 4000 eyeglasses and has given eye checkups to more than 5000 individuals, often addressing presbyopia in various, mostly economically disadvantage, communities in Davao City. Delivering eye care to the incarcerated, while not for everyone, is certainly a great opportunity. Practicing optometry and delivering eye-care in prison has revealed a side of healthcare that most are not fully aware of, the joy of giving to the most marginalized. With great joy and happiness among the inmates and prison staff at DaPeCol, they received the services offered by MCI in collaboration with the ophthalmology students from Davao Doctors College together with their professors and Dr. Ariel Barrientos, Dean of the School of Ophthalmology at the Davao Doctors College; Dr. Jovina Sandra; and Attorney Susan Cariaga. On January 20, 2023, the volunteers traveled to DaPeCol to give free eye tests and blood pressure screening, to dispense 400 free new eyeglasses, and to provide snacks to people who attended.

Minority Care International (MCI) Returns to Weekly study Forum on January 28th ,2023. 

The president of the Social Entrepreneurship Institute, Dr. Aland Mizell, received an award from Bureau of Corrections for initiating College Education Behind Bars in Davao Prison and Penal Farm formerly known as DAPECOL . This initiative serves as a nationwide model, having received national attention as the only such program combining education and rehabilitation for prisoners/students in the Philippines and indeed in Southeast Asia. Dr. Mizell was honored for his work as an educator, for his role in founding this innovative program for the incarcerated, and for his effort to show that learning has the power to change lives. The award was presented during the BuCor  91th ^th Anniversary, which was held in Davao Prison Penal Farm on January 21, 2023. Dr. Mizell’s being selected to receive this award highlights SETBI’s  strong commitment to community service and to providing bright and motivated students with opportunities to experience the transformational power of higher education.