In a research to help improve the rehabilitation of prisoners with less than 3 years left on their sentence be able to fit into the society.
Halfway home transit has come to be an answer to that problem
Some Focus Groups Discussions have been conducted at 5 different districts: Ngoma, Rwamagana, Nyarugenge, Musanze, and Nyamagabe.
Targeted individuals are ex-prisoners, families of current prisoners.
discussions focused on improving their mental health, their social cohesion, and livelihood, they told us what are the problems in their daily lives, and what they think could be implemented in the center
here are some of the prisoners relatives answers:
Those people with their relatives in prison started by telling us problem faces the prisoners returning to the community that they are not welcome in their families and their neighbors.
In other areas they found themselves isolated to the society and this affects their families as well.
Clementine who has his father in prison told us that they people that don’t respect their Dignity this bring shame to their family name, it become the reason they don’t enjoy themselves with the rest.
A women called Naomie told us that some of the released prisoners bring their anger into the community, this cause family conflict that are unnecessary, those coming into the society have difficulties living with others, it causes trouble with their neighbors.
MUKARUGIRA who has his husband in prison told us that most of the time occur conflict related to their heritage he left behind when convicted, and they cause misunderstanding on how it was used.
They spoke to us about those who had job before and when they came, they lost it.
The woman called ESTHER asked to teach and train them in national values and patriotism.
MUKARUGIRA asked to help family’s prisoners are destined to live in with financial means and other form of help
Encourage them to make savings & loans group to improve their lives.
Most of families related to prisoners need to see their loved ones with RWANDAN VALUES
Clementine asked to teach those who recently is out of prison in different basic ways during the time they are familiarizing with the society, having a way to touch some money, start small business.
Encourage them to participate in Unity and reconciliation groups,
The advice is to help those in the center with religious belief/ encourage to raise their spirit
Naomie think they should teach prisoners according to their capacity and different fields following their minds
Teach them INDANGAGACIRO and other government values with help to implement them
Clementine request to ask those who committed genocide to come and show where the body of their victims are to be buried in proper human way.
There is some advice they give to train them physically practicing sport, because most spend the time in inactive mode, making them sexually inactive.
The woman called MUKARUGIRA asked to encourage them to ask for forgiveness to the survivors and show where their loves one had been executed.
What families wish the center should give to their family is to have guards not those who guard the prison (non-RCS staff)
NAOMIE told us to have exclusive enough voluntary praying time
Have some activities to occupy them and prevent depression, here they can practice business management
CLEMENTINE asked that visitors could be allowed to bring outside food
They could allow prisoners to visit their families
Allow prisoners in the center to use the telephone for the sufficient time convenient to the family to feel close to them.
We had a conversation with ex prisoners too in the conversation here is what they told us :
The ex- prisoners told us problems they face returning to the community, one man called Noheli told us that he was poor, and his family had nothing on their hand.
Zacharie told us that the biggest challenge was to build an economic life, because he lacks any work to make income
Sometimes you find yourself alone in a whole house, the other member may die or other reasons to leave the family in search of a new life.
Another told us that he reached his family and found there was conflict, and it was divided which affected him.
Lacking anyone to push you in your effort to build a business or financial support
A man called Joseph told us he had a problem of security during his first day, where he slept and felt for his security
Another woman told us she had a problem of shame in public especially when she meets the one, she betrayed and killed.
Joseph told us another problem he had is the family asset that are bad used and it cause conflict how they spent it.
One big problem commonly you face coming to the community is hatred towards them seeing them as criminal and have no social interest in them
Reach the family and find they say other crime they didn’t commit
Hatred that he passed the information that got other people arrested
What we advise is to prepare curriculum on workforce to help them find what to do when they reach the society
The center should have teachers or trainers on small business management
Prepare them return with social heart
Receive proper nation values and implement in their life
A woman called Catherine advise to teach them to accept themselves and live-in peace with others into the society
Train them to have a solid heart
Noheli advised us to treat them well and they can ask for forgiveness, being patient, accept themselves
Emmanuel advises to prepare to be patient with problem they will face in their return into the community.
Released prisoners told us that they found that who is coming into the community need to know how to read and write.
Knowing bot language English and French.
Another ex-prisoner told us they need to come with a good knowledge about forming groups
Prepare them emotionally not to be afraid daily.
