By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS) together with the International Youth Fellowship (IYF) has launched a skills training exercise for inmates at both the Special Court Complex and the main facility on Pademba road. Named Mind Education the programme was to prepare the minds of inmates to become better people after serving time.
In his opening remarks, the Deputy Director-General of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, Ahmed Turay said that he felt honored to be part of the launching process of the mind education programme. He said the venture is a ‘giant’ step in the right direction in consolidating their transformation of prisons to Corrections by an Act of Parliament in 2014.
’’ For the past few weeks, a cross-section of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service management had been working with pastor Kim and his son Charles assiduously to make sure this program is a success, noting that the launching is the beginning of a new era for inmates and correctional service officers. Notwithstanding, today I believe is the beginning of a new dawn in the life of inmates and by extension the officers,’’ he said
Turay said that they now use the triple R representing Reformation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration. ‘’In that regard, it is no secret that mind education and character development are very central to reforming the inmates, as it shapes their way of thinking,’’ he noted. This he said will tap into their creativity to do something very productive to society rather than resorting to any activity that will put them in conflict with the law.
The Deputy DG said the reformation process is very paramount as it has to do with the minds of law offenders. ‘’This is because our actions are a reflection of our minds. Hence if our minds are full of good intentions, our actions will even be better,’’ he said. He noted that the Rehabilitation process is important because it is where they empower inmates with skills that will help them with jobs upon their release, with Reintegration focused on bringing them back into society. ‘’We will embrace the mind education programme as we build the future,’’ he concluded.
Country Director of IYF, Hwan Chul Parle said their programme is to change the mindset of the people. He said the education acquired by people in school is not enough and people need to have mind education. He made reference to the event’s Guest Speaker Ki-sung Kim who went to prison for 16 years, got enrolled into the mind education programme and upon release never went to prison again for crime.
‘’I hope and pray that all of you that are here will change for the better,’’ he admonished the inmates.
The Guest Speaker Ki-sung Kim in addressing the gathering spoke of how he went to prison for 16 years and got his mindset changed through the programme.
‘’I thought it fit that I should give the same teaching that benefited me whilst in prison,’’ he said. He pointed out that they had a war in their country which destroyed everything, noting that South Korea was rated as one of the poorest countries in the world with a GDP of 60 dollars at the time. ‘’So for the past 60 years we have developed more than 500 times and currently, our GDP is 35,000 dollars,’’ Ki-sung.
Kim noted that it is the mindset of the people which change for good that makes them develop rapidly. ‘’When someone’s mind changes for good that individual will do something that he/she won’t imagine,’’ he said. He urged inmates to always try to change their mindset for good and stop saying that they can’t do it. He said they should always get it at the back of their minds and always say it loudly that they can do it.
A representative from the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Edward Saccoh said the importance of having inmates in the correctional centre is not primarily to punish them for wrongdoing. ‘’He said a major purpose of imprisonment is to rehabilitate inmates, saying that was why the country has moved from the name Prisons to Correction in 2014.
Saccoh noted that correctional centres in the country need such mind education programmes for better rehabilitation for inmates. “It is indisputable that such a programme will have a positive impact on inmates and prepare them for development after serving their jail term,’’ Saccoh stated.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (09/03/22)
