By Mohamed T. Massaquoi
The Sierra Leone Correctional Centre (SLCC) in Freetown has slated November 15 as date for the first ever beauty pageant and talent exhibition show for women serving jail terms. The Gender and Equal Opportunity Unit at the Female Correctional Service, in partnership with SaloneJamboree, will stage the show at the grounds of the Female Correctional Centre at New England.
The organizers agreed to name this maiden event: “Miss Correctional”, and they say it will be held on the theme: “Reform and Rehabilitate Inmates for a better society.”
According to SLCC authorities, they hope to use the event to minimize psychological challenges associated with prison life, such as depression and anxiety.
“This program complies with international best practice to enhance the physical, ethical, health and psychological protection of the inmates,” said Superintendent Aminata Turay, Head of Gender and Equal Opportunity Unit at the SLCC. Turay said they were learning from the experiences of Kenya and Brazil, which have organized similar events.
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SaloneJamboree, Murtala Mohamed Kamara, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Correctional service for the partnership. He said the event will bring reform among female inmates and also contribute to nation-building. He promised to ensure that the programme comes out successful.
“I am grateful to the ministry of Internal Affairs for giving us the clearance to organize this event which for us is a way of giving back to society, by helping to reform the inmates,” said Kamara.
Officials say the programme is aimed at building the capacity of female inmates to become self-reliant after they are released. They also say it will help female inmates to develop in themselves confidence and positive self-image.
According to Mr Kamara, an audition for the final set of contestants is scheduled for Monday October 21.
© 2019 Politico Online
