Dignity and hope for prisoners
through health, education and justice
African Prisons Project (APP) is a young charity founded to improve the welfare, health and education of detainees in Africa. We aim to restore the dignity of prisoners by providing humane conditions and improving welfare, access to medical facilities and the opportunity to learn. Our principal projects are the creation or refurbishment of prison clinics and libraries.
Africa is a continent in transition, and its problems are magnified within its detention systems. The plight of detainees is rarely noticed; therefore they receive little help from charitable organisations. Yet they include the most downtrodden and vulnerable - babies imprisoned with their mothers, the mentally ill, children and the illiterate.
In general, the conditions in African prisons are painfully poor. Many are severely overcrowded, lack sanitation and are unable to provide adequate nutrition. Access to books and education is limited or non-existent. Medical facilities are wholly inadequate. Few countries have universal access to legal representation, whilst many retain the death penalty and corporal punishment. Prison sentences can be significantly longer than in developed countries and it is not unusual to spend long periods in prison without trial.
Since its foundation, APP has been run by young volunteers - students and young professionals who want to make a difference. Increasingly we are supported by our advisors and partners. We provide school leavers and those from a variety of backgrounds with the opportunity to gain experience and skills by assisting a project in Africa. Our volunteers then act as ambassadors when they return home.
Welcome
Letter from Africa - Winter 2009
New! Read the latest edition of our newsletter, Letter from Africa.
(You can also read back issues.)
Download APP’s 2009 update here
Read details of upcoming projects!
Special Report: Mitigation Workshop – Luzira Women’s Prison
By Barrie Sander
Special Report: TB in Luzira
By Rowan Emslie
Special Report: Visit from Chris Rwakasisi
By Rowan Emslie
APP on Facebook
Find us on Facebook to discover more about African Prisons Project (you need a Facebook account to view this page).
Freedom Cry, a CD by Condemned Choirs
African Prisons Project have produced a CD of songs performed by Condemned Choirs, death row inmates in Luzira Prison, Uganda. Read more information about Freedom Cry.
Now you can follow African Prisons Project updates on Twitter!
Latest news
19 Aug 2010APP at Mulago Hospital
As part of the commitment to healthcare for prisoners, along with the refurbishment of clinics, APP staff attend to prisoners admitted to Mulago Hospital to offer moral support and assist with basic needs and care. Here are the stories of just a few: More...
18 Aug 2010Opening of the Healthcare Clinic at Gulu
On 25th June 2010, African Prisons Project celebrated the opening of the Healthcare Clinic at Gulu. More...
27 Jul 2010Wonderful Painting
Today we had a visitor arrive at our APP office. This happens often – people who have heard about APP, read something in the newspaper, seen Alexander on TV or got to know about APP in another way. Most often these are Ugandan people who are looking for a job. Of course, we listen to them and tell them how we work and what the possibilities are. More...
22 Jul 2010British Prisoners support APP
In a wonderful gesture of goodwill, prisoners from HM Prison Kingston in Portsmouth donated money to the African Prisons Project after attending a talk on the plight of those incarcerated in Africa. More...