From Uniform to Hoe: 20 Military Prisoners Become Professional Gardeners

Twenty inmates at the Santa Maria Capua Vetere military prison have successfully completed a training program that could change their lives. At the "Caserma Ezio Andolfato"—the only military penitentiary still operating in Italy since 2005—a ceremony was held to award professional training certificates as groundskeepers, following the final exams of the course organized by the Caserta People's University.

The GOL program enters the cell

The course, conducted directly within the prison facility by faculty from the University of Caserta, is one of those funded by the national GOL (Worker Employability Guarantee) program and is unique in its kind. The Università Popolare di Caserta was among the first in Italy to bring vocational training into prisons, focusing on a model that combines rehabilitation and concrete employability.

Marketable skills to break the cycle of recidivism

"Reintegration into society necessarily requires an alternative," says Nicola Troisi, president of the University. "Providing marketable skills is one of the ways we can effectively provide a second chance, prevent recidivism, and transform detention into a real opportunity for redemption."

Public green spaces, future and jobs

The decision to focus on green space maintenance is no coincidence. Troisi calls it "a very strong signal": the management of public and private green spaces is increasingly a strategic asset for sustainable urban development. Training specialized professionals means responding to a growing market demand, in a sector where public management often shows structural shortcomings. For the twenty former inmates, the piece of paper handed in at the end of the exams is more than just a certificate: it's the map of a possible path to freedom.