Inmates ready for societal reintegration
Windhoek Correctional Facility celebrates graduation
The proceeds from the cake sales and orders will go towards inmates' toiletries and other small commodities.
On Tuesday, seven female inmates at the Windhoek Correctional Facility graduated from a three-month cake-baking and decorating training course. The programme, which started in April and concluded at the end of July, was an initiative of the facility's community advisory committee, and aimed at improving the quality of the cake-baking project at the prison.During her keynote address, businesswoman and committee member Mariane Akwenye said while empowering female inmates with these skills, the facility is preparing them to be reintegrated into society.
“The inmates have to go back to their communities, and the correctional facility is the last net to catch inmates when all other systems have failed. Are we going to send back people who have done nothing to re-offend, or people who have paid their dues and now can become active members of society?”
She added that the committee identified an existing market and trade for the project, and built from there.
“We hope to turn this project into a profitable one. We are trying to teach these women how to fish so that they don’t go hungry. We want to move on and start baking cakes and cookies that people can order and pay for straight from the facility’s kitchen,” she said.
According to the prison, the proceeds from cake sales and orders will be divided amongst the bakers and the facility, with the inmates' share going towards toiletries and other small commodities.
New journey
One of the trainers and committee members Celeste Mertens said incarcerated women need to be allowed to rehabilitate and be empowered for their return into society through projects and initiatives like this.
“Any skill that you acquire and learn is something that no one could take from you. Thank you for trusting us and showing a willingness to learn,” she said.
Inmate Elizabeth Hajisi (46) said although the training was difficult, she is excited to use the skills she learnt on her new journey. Hajisi finished her prison sentence on the day of her graduation, and was set to go home to her family yesterday.
“I want to thank our trainers for sharing their skills with us. For their kindness, patience and consideration. This is a sign that people outside the prison have inmates’ best interest at heart,” she said.
The training was sponsored by Bokomo Namibia, DotSixteen Foundation and Kadhikwa Chicken Farming.