Inhaltsangabe
2. Selection process
3. The young people in Crossroads
1. Shikusa Borstal Institution
"Shikusa Borstal Institution“ is a prison near Kagamega that houses, among others, about 200 delinquent youths between the ages of 15 and 18. They start education on the farm-like premises during their usually 3 years of imprisonment, which a few of them can finish later, after the selection process, in Crossroads.
The following apprenticeships are available there:
tailoring
welding
masonry
plumbing
carpentry
electrical wiring
2. Selection process
The delinquent youths can apply for a place in Crossroads after completing one and a half years of their 3-year prison sentence in "Shikusa Borstal Institution". They are then interviewed to determine if they are suitable for the program.
One of the requirements is that they must be under 18 years old. In addition, the families of the respective young people are visited after 3 months of a trial stay at Crossroads. During this visit, we try to clarify if and how they will be accepted by their respective families. This is important to reintegrate the young people into their families after their successful rehabilitation. After all, in Africa, the family is the most important social system.
In addition, young people can partially deal with some of the mistakes and problems from their past. This is an important aspect of the rehabilitation process.
3. The young people in Crossroads
The youth who come to Crossroads from prisons bring with them some challenges. They often have a hard time sticking to rules and completely shedding old behaviors. As a result, we are repeatedly confronted with refusals to work or even theft, as well as lying. There are also cases when young people leave the rehabilitation program within a week to three months after their arrival.
Each youth brings with them their imprint and problems. Difficult pasts are the norm. Often they are half-orphans or orphans who have grown up without love and attention. Quite a few have had to experience abuse or have been encouraged to steal. In some cases, young people also organize themselves into gangs.
By behaving in this or similar ways, they often cause great damage to their community and family environment.
African society is collectivistic and relationship-oriented. Therefore, family ties are elementary for the youths. Their family provides them with protection, care, and support, as well as social security and a network that can pick them up.
As a rule, the relationship with the family is still the strongest, despite the damage that the young people have often done. That's why reintegration is so important to them.
Our current young people:
Chrispinus Ekesa - since 2022 in Crossroads
Martin Elphas Kiptoo -since 2022 in Crossroads
Charles Henry Nyemwe - since 2022 in Crossroads
Alfonce Opiyo - since 2022 in Crossroads
4. Education
During the probationary period, the young people already help out on the farm and receive English lessons. In addition, they have the opportunity to continue learning the trade they started in prison at Crossroads.
After one year, they are tested for their ability to go to school and are allowed to complete two degrees at the "Polytechnic", a vocational school of "Diguna". During this time they are only in Crossroads on weekends, because during the week they are accommodated in the boarding school of the "Polytechnic".
Throughout their time at Crossroads, they are taught skills to live responsibly in society. In addition, they deepen their Christian faith together and receive pastoral and psychological care.
Young people must learn to take responsibility for their lives, and we support them in this as much as possible.
The reintegration process begins after graduation with another visit to their home country. This visit begins the preparation for the young people to come home after six months.
After two and a half to three years, following successful rehabilitation, they then move back to their home country and integrate into their family and original environment.
Comments