This was the launch meeting held to get Adopt D section project up and going

The Adopt “D” Section programme as the name says aims to work with youth in the maximum D section of Drakenstein. This is a section where new offenders come in and is where most of the problems (like violence) occur. We have a team of dedicated volunteers who meet one-on-one with the aprox. 95 inmates. The main aim of the project is to uplift the morale of the offenders in the section and also the morale of the wardens.

We want to do this by:

1. Showing personal interest in the offender and getting his family to visit him again and or make contact of some sort. Many of the offenders have not had a visit since being sentenced and this could be up to 4 years.
2. Garden project – By fixing up the small garden area they have and planting color so that they can have a more colorful environment.’
3. Also to paint out the cells and tidy up everything so that living conditions can be improved.
4. Skills training – By instilling large containers that can be covert into training and skills rooms. These will be used to train potential people in the various skills and training options that we will be able to offer like woodwork, metal work, etc.
5. We also want to improve the sport facilities for these offenders.by possibly installing “action sports” nets like action cricket, action soccer, or action netball.
6. We would like to start an aviary (bird) project. Whereby those who are interested can build a cage and train and work with birds.
7. Art scape project – By making use of artistic abilities we get the offender to participate in art related projects that encourage him to express himself better.

We started the project in October 2010 and have been busy with one-on-one interview with the offenders of this section. We are also helping with providing extra board games etc. for them to keep busy during the day. In the 5 months that we have already been busy there is a remarkable improvement in behavior in the section.

The statistics that are kept for all offenses and misdemeanors have already shown a vast improvement in the section.

Help us to transform lives by renewing minds