JUVENILE OFFENDERS GIVEN A CHANCE TO LEARN

Well done Dell and Xerox ! In my opinion the more ex prisoners that we can intergrate as contributing members of society, into the economy - the better the future of South Africa.

Here's a challenge to all "Big Business" out there - we can all make a difference! Let's all work towards a common goal!


Juvenile offenders given a chance to learn
December 06 2006 at 07:48AM
By Karen Breytenbach

For the first time ever in the Western Cape, a group of juvenile offenders will have the tools, writing and layout skills to be able to print their own newspaper in prison. Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour was scheduled to unveil a new computer centre at Hawequa Youth Correctional Facility in Wellington on Tuesday, but had to be in Pretoria on short notice to reshuffle the senior management of his department after Correctional Services Commissioner Linda Mti resigned.

The prisoners and management were nevertheless excited about receiving 15 slick flat- screen computers from the Dell Foundation, and a printer from Xerox, through the help of the Southern African Media and Gender Institute (Samgi).

One prisoner, who was incarcerated eight years ago and is expecting to be released in 2009, said he was "very excited to learn everything about the computer" and said he hoped it would help him to find a good job one day. Another, who said he was imprisoned in 2002 and is to be released next year, said he hoped the training would change his life for the better. "Nothing is impossible," he said.

Samgi, which has been involved with the facility since 1998, will facilitate training of a select group of inmates on how to use basic computer programmes, while simultaneously educating them about gender issues and respect for women. A staggering 80% of these offenders were found guilty of sexual offences.

Finance and Tourism MEC Lynne Brown, in her unveiling speech yesterday, said the country did not have "enough young men and women with skills to drive the economy" and reminded the offenders that computer skills could enable them to play an active role in society. "While we take care of the economy, it is equally important to take care of other people, and in particular women and children," she said.

Chairman of the Dell Foundation, Rob Nunn, said their aim was to "bridge the digital divide by giving as many people access to technology as possible, who wouldn't otherwise have the chance".

This article was originally published on page 4 of Cape Times on December 06, 2006