Inmates graduate as confectioners
Cakes created in prison
Seven female inmates of the Windhoek Correctional Facility (WFC) completed a three-month training course to become confectioners on Tuesday.The training began in April and continued until last week.
As part of their training, the inmates learned how to bake different cakes and decorate them with fondant.
The initiative was organized by the facility's Community Advisory Committee (CAC).
“We want to change the lives of women here,” said CAC member Mariane Akwenye.
"Prisoners need to return to their communities, and the prison is the last net that catches them when all other systems have failed."
Akwenye said she is proud of all the graduates. "I saw the cakes and almost burst into tears," she said. As a final project, all inmates made a cake based on a specific theme (see photo).
Akwenye hopes the initiative will turn into a profitable project. "We want to go ahead and start making cakes and cookies that people can order and pay for right in the facility's kitchen," she said.
According to the prison, revenue from cake sales and orders is split between the inmates (pastry chefs) and the facility, with the inmate's share going towards toiletries and other small items.
Three of the inmates also spoke at the closing. They all thanked their teachers with heartfelt words and talked about how much the training had improved their lives. "It's a sign that people outside of prison care about the well-being of inmates," said inmate Elizabeth Hajisi (46).
One of the instructors, Celeste Mertens, was moved to tears and assured the inmates, "We learned a lot from you too!"