Community Reintegration
You matter because you are you, you matter until the last moment of your life…
Few of those who enter prison will never leave it. Therefore, everything that is done to prisoners should be with the objective of helping them become productive and useful citizens upon their return to the community. However, people in prison are a part of the society, despite the fact that they are rarely seen and that prisoners have been designated for separation from the rest of the population.
The process of rehabilitation and reintegration must start in prison. Prisoners’ families, friends and lawyers all play an important part in this, and also in making life in prison more bearable. Support from one’s loved ones brings hope. If a prisoner loses contact with those closest to him whilst in prison it is less likely that he will be able to return to them upon his release.
Once one is released from prison, even if they have gained skills and been transformed there, they need assistance to reintegrate into the community. Without a place to sleep, an honest means of supporting oneself, a reason to live and the right company it is very difficult to break the crime cycle.
Few governments in Africa provide any support to ex-offenders, whether financial or otherwise, which enable them to reintegrate into society. If a man leaves prison with a degree, but has no where to go and no money to get there when he gets out, then it is obvious how he might resort to crime.
Our Community Reintegration work consists of Post Release Support and Societal Change.