Namibia Inmates Litercy Initiative - GROOTFONTEIN

INAUGURATED BY: 29TH OCTOBER 2021

ONDUNDU YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION 

DIGITAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION 

GROOTFONTEIN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

The Ondundu Youth Development Organization under the leadership of Mr. Eino Mbango as founder and Mr. Jeppy Filipe as co-founder Inaugurated the National Inmates Literacy Programme on the 29th of October 2021, with the THEME; Inmates Information Sharing Initiative in Grootfontein. The initiative is established to cater for Inmates both male and females who have been sentenced to a short period in prison by providing adequate  information to guide them into understanding the benefits of having access to relevant digital information and how to use such knowledge proactively in order to develop their mindset with productive ideas.

BACKGROUND

Namibia is a country that is prone to attract economic enhancement opportunities and many entrepreneurs are focused on industrialization in various sectors of economic development, however; the population density of the our country is fluctuating in a manner that requires the general public to start addressing issues related to behavior change in adolescence, youth and adults. This dimension and mode of fluctuation is aligned to factors that increase the mortality rate especially when the less prevailed are not guided or supported with resources that will enable them to create platforms of self development, human capacity stress release and more essentially allocating various disciplinary platforms to better the lifes and surrounding environments of everybody.

Ondundu Youth Development released that economic emancipation has just been a word for far too long and young people especially the born frees in Namibia. They are faced with many challenges that hinder their way of thinking and challenge their career development. Many of these challenges are based on inadequate funding for them to be able to facilitate whatever it is they need in life, and what leads them to committing crimes. So, the organization took a step to look into conducting research of the effects of what, how and why youth are incriminated and imprisoned and on how to help them overcome their sentence when they get released from prison. 

    DETERMINATION

We were determined to understand the holistic approach in how to gather inmates and provide them with information that can build their in strength and provide realistic opportunities that can give them hope and inspire them to once again use their GIFT of LIFE to make meaningful decision on how to contribute to community development, sports recreational development, vocational education development and become motivational speakers in future. After approaching various institutions to gain input on how best to implement the initiative, we were guided by the spirit of One Namibia One Nation and the Pride of keeping a consistent mode of effective communication with the respective National and Regional offices in order to gain approval to host the inauguration of the initiative in Grootfontein as a Pilot.

HOPE

Many inmates felt left out, depressed, suicidal, unhappy, unappreciated, sick, hopeless, tired, worried, weak and stagnated due to their current situation, we were very concerned about their reaction towards us and how they would take in the information we provided and how they would react to the various recommendations and suggestions on how to live a better life after prison but, to our surprise we were Shawn with bright faces instilled with hope, courage and determination from them. Some ensured that they will keep in touch with Ondundu Youth Development Organization when released to gain more information and assistance to achieve their goals. Hope can be instilled in the hearts to the hopeless in many way, and just as education is the key to success, 

we believe that 

Information is the Key to for the Hopeless.

The mandate of the Inmates Digital Information Sharing Initiative (IDISI) is to ensure information dissemination to offenders and to protect the public while assisting offenders to prepare for a law-abiding return to the community. To achieve this, the initiative shall accurately empower and assess the risk and needs of offenders and exercise the promotion of risk management response such as custody, programming and structured community support. We aim to be professional and adopted the principles and methods that can enhance public safety, safe custody and reintegration of inmates thus creating a purposeful and meaningful change of offenders into law abiding citizens using the correction channels and information to lead them towards this goal. We shall ensure that every inmate is secured in a correctional institution, and that suitable and effective information programme addressing criminal behavior are offered during and after their release.

REPORT

ONDUNDU YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION

National Inmates Information Sharing Initiative

The Ondundu Youth Development Organization under the leadership of Mr. Eino Mbango as founder Inaugurated the National Inmates Literacy Programme on the 29th of October 2021, with the THEME; Inmates Information Sharing Initiative in Grootfontein. The initiative is established to cater for Inmates both male and females who have been sentenced to a short period in prison by providing adequate  information to guide them into understanding the benefits of having access to relevant information and how to use such knowledge proactively in order to develop their mindset with productive ideas.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Namibia is a country that's prone to attract economic enhancement opportunities and many entrepreneurs are focused on industrialization in various sectors of economic development, however; the population density of our country is fluctuating in a manner that requires the general public to start addressing issues related to behavior change in adolescence, youth and adults. This dimension and mode of fluctuation is aligned to factors that increase the mortality rate especially when the less prevalent are not guided or supported with resources that will enable them to create platforms of self development, human capacity stress release and more essentially allocating various disciplinary platform

EVENT SPEAKERS

The event was attended by the following as protocol; left to right: Ondundu Founders Mr. Eino Mbango, Mr. Jeppy Filipe, Ms. M. Nauyoma, Hon. Talitha Garises local authority Councillor and Member of the LA Management Committee, Mr. Gabriel Geigub Constituency Administrative Officer.

The Grootfontein Correctional Facility leadership and community leaders in front of SALUTE BOXING ACADEMY (group Photo-A); Indeed we comment on the GCF Staff for properly preparing the venue and safely coordinating the Inmates during the event. Moreover the Office of the Municipality and Constituency office for providing delegate speeches that motivated the inmates and ensured them with hope after serving their time in prison.

We were impressed by the fact that the majority of the Inmates could sing the National Anthem Properly and the AU Anthem. Indeed this showed a sign of UNITY, LIBERTY AND PROSPERITY among the inmates of the Grootfontein correctional service. The initiative took a holistic approach in identifying how many inmates were interested in economic development, infrastructure-development, motivational speaking, entrepreneurship and innovation among many other sectors of community development. Discussions around their current affairs in prison was a hot topic; this led many inmates to reflect on stressful situations and queried how our programme would help them while in prison as opposed to when they get out of prison. This question opened up our minds to reflect on articles published in The Village and The Namibia Sun some time back and videos on Youtube that have been addressing Education for Prisoners to be implemented. We answered them by stating that with their recommendation we will probe the ministry regarding that and how far their implementation strategy is .

ORIENTATION TOUR

The Officers in Charge were very much supportive of the programme and offered an orientation tour of the Grootfontein Correctional Facility’s indoor sections. The tour was an amazing experience and really provided insight into how the community actually pictured prison administration as bad which was not the case at all. In Fact the Officers in Charge of the various sections of the facility are well trained and possed quality customer care service, we were very impressed with their professionalism and strict generosity in accommodating us. 

 

REPORT

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY;

ONDUNDU YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION

National Inmates Information Sharing Initiative

The Ondundu Youth Development Organization under the leadership of Mr. Eino Mbango as founder and Mr. Jeppy Filipe as co-founder in collaboration with SALUTE BOXING ACADEMY Inaugurated the National Inmates Literacy Programme on the 29th of October 2021, with the THEME; Inmates Information Sharing Initiative in Grootfontein. The initiative is established to cater for Inmates both male and females who have been sentenced to a short period in prison by providing adequate  information to guide them into understanding the benefits of having access to relevant information and how to use such knowledge proactively in order to develop their mindset with productive ideas.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Namibia is a country that's prone to attract economic enhancement opportunities and many entrepreneurs are focused on industrialization in various sectors of economic development, however; the population density of our country is fluctuating in a manner that requires the general public to start addressing issues related to behavior change in adolescence, youth and adults. This dimension and mode of fluctuation is aligned to factors that increase the mortality rate especially when the less prevalent are not guided or supported with resources that will enable them to create platforms of self development, human capacity stress release and more essentially allocating various disciplinary platforms.

EVENT SPEAKERS

The event was attended by the following as protocol; left to right: Ondundu Founders Mr. Eino Mbango, Mr. Jeppy Filipe, Ms. M. Nauyoma, Hon. Talitha Garises local authority Councillor and Member of the LA Management Committee, Mr. Gabriel Geigub Constituency Administrative Officer.

The Grootfontein Correctional Facility leadership and community leaders in front of SALUTE BOXING ACADEMY (group Photo-A); Indeed we comment on the GCF Staff for properly preparing the venue and safely coordinating the Inmates during the event. Moreover the Office of the Municipality and Constituency office for providing delegate speeches that motivated the inmates and ensured them with hope after serving their time in prison.

We were impressed by the fact that the majority of the Inmates could sing the National Anthem Properly and the AU Anthem. Indeed this showed a sign of UNITY, LIBERTY AND PROSPERITY among the inmates of the Grootfontein correctional service. The initiative took a holistic approach in identifying how many inmates were interested in economic development, infrastructure-development, motivational speaking, entrepreneurship and innovation among many other sectors of community development. Discussions around their current affairs in prison was a hot topic; this led many inmates to reflect on stressful situations and queried how our programme would help them while in prison as opposed to when they get out of prison. This question opened up our minds to reflect on articles published in The Village and The Namibia Sun some time back and videos on Youtube that have been addressing Education for Prisoners to be implemented. We answered them by stating that with their recommendation we will probe the ministry regarding that and how far their implementation strategy is .

ORIENTATION TOUR

The Officers in Charge were very much supportive of the programme and offered an orientation tour of the Grootfontein Correctional Facility’s indoor sections. The tour was an amazing experience and really provided insight into how the community actually pictured prison administration as bad which was not the case at all. In Fact the Officers in Charge of the various sections of the facility are well trained and possed quality customer care service, we were very impressed with their professionalism and strict generosity in accommodating us. 

PENSIONERS WITH HOPE AFTER RECEIVING INFORMATION FROM ONDUNDU YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION

The lady in the above picture will be released in 3 (three) months. She was filled with hope and inspired to contact our organization when she gets out of prison by February 2022. We are ready to gain her insight and mentor her to become a motivational speaker for our programmes.

Inmates consume food from their kitchen and these foods include vegetables from the prison garden and bread made/baked by inmates themselves. The kitchen was very clean and not even a cockroach was in the picture.

Moreover; we were given a taste of their very own medicine “Lunch”. Which also tasted well.

TASTING PRISON FOOD

WOMEN AND GIRLS IN PRISON

Although not only men and boys are in prison , we also had an opportunity to talk to some of the girls and women who were imprisoned at the Grootfontein Correctional Facility.The female inmates were only 6 with 2 senior citizens, they were all to be released c in a period of 1 (one) year and 6 (six) months.

 

INMATES LISTENING ATTENTIVELY

“There is a need for these services to be strengthened, because library services are a vital requirement for effective learning,” this quote was taken from The Namibian Newspaper by Hon. Namoloh 

Welcoming Speech By: Mr. Gabriel Geigub

Director of Ceremonies

Hon. Talitha Garises, the Local Authority Councilor and Member of the LA Management Committee, Senior Superintendend Madam Martha Nauyoma, Distingushied Invited Guests, All Government Officials Present aOndundu Youth Development Founder Mr. Eino Mbango and Chairperson Mr. Filipe Jeppy.

Dear Inmate, Our Media Ladies and Gentlemen. GOOD MORNING TO ALL. I feel honored today and it is my sincere gratitude and appreciation to welcome you all to witness the inauguration of the inmates information sharing gathering. Today is an important day and we are honored to have Mr. Mbangoand Mr. Filipe with us here. All two are esteemed technocrats in Inmates Development and Programmes. My wish is that all inmates, regardless of their background or circumstances, achieve their full potential through participating in the development of programmes. Our task is to make it possible as a collective. This kind of initiative serves as an encouragement to all of us to join our efforts in socio-economic development activities of our country, which will ultimately uplift the living standards of our people. I therefore appreciate the efforts that was made by Ondundu Youth Founders in ensuring that we gathered here today to exchange knowledge and skills in areas of community development. I wish to acknowledge the presence of our local authority councillor, Hon. Garises for taking time off from her busy schedule to be present here today.

Madam Councillor, we are delighted to have you with us here to participate and share information during this special occasion. Hon. Councillor, we wholeheartedly appreciate your presence. A warm welcome to all the distinguished invited guest and the government officials in order to grace this colourful occasion, through their much valued physical presence. I sincerely thank you for coming.

Last but not, let me welcome the inmates of Grootfontein Correctional Facility, who are here today and who will be associated with the long term National Inmates Literacy Initiative. So please be prepared to be excited and inspired during this event to learn one or two things. I will not make it any longer because forsure, all of us are excited to hear more from the event organizers. I therefore welcome you all and may God bless you all.

__________________________________

SPEECH BY: Hon. Mrs. Talitha Garises, Council Member of the Grootfontein Municipality

Good day, ….

All protocol observed. My name is Mrs. Talitha Garises, Council member of the Grootfontien Municipality, I great you all in the name of The Almightly God, who make all things possible including this very important gathering.

Allow me to open with this short verse from the Bible, (Hebrew 13:3) “Remember those in prison as if you were their fello prisoner, and those who aer mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. “Unquote. I can’t stand here and pretend as if I know exactly how each and every one of you feel and the trials and adversity you encounter every day, but I can only give you a word of encouragement. LIFE as we know it has no straight and easy path, no one knows what/or how their lives are going to turn up. Yes it’s true that we all have dreams and aspirations, we all want to be recognised for our positive contributions and leave a mark on this world. I do believe and it is a fact that being in here denies you of many rights such as restriction of movement, visiting and socializing with your loved ones, but you should never allow your mind to be imprisoned. Thus being in prison does ont mean that you can’t contribute positively to the community and help transform their lives for the better. Just by sharing your life encounters and /or experiences with youth and those faced with vast social evils such as alcohol, drugs and peer pressure can be regarded as a valuable asset. Surely having someone with firsthand information such as yourself engaging directly with the youth can have a positive impact on them. Let us hold hands and help transform the lives of those in need. As for yourselves, this should not be regarded as the end of the road. Thank you to our Government for introducing educational programmes with no boundaries, meaning education for all. During your stay here, you shouldn’t let time go to waste ,rather use it wisely and empower yourselves with necessary knowledge , skills and attitude. No one knows what the future holds, all we have to do is to strive and hope for a better tomorrow. Being discouraged, demotivated should not even be an option, our faith and hope is all we have. I would like to close this speech with one of the most powerful quotes, which o apply in my life on a daily basis, “EMANCIPATE (free) YOURSELF FROM MENTAL SLAVERY, NONE BUT OURSLEVES CAN FREE OUR MINDS”
God surely is able and nothing is impossible with God, you will taste freedom again, whether in this life or the next…. May the Almighty God Bless, protect and guide you. Peace be upon all of you. I thank you!

HOSPITAL INSIDE PRISON

Mr.