Welcome to our Dream Again Prison and Youth Foundation newsletter, where we bring you the latest news and insights from 2022.
The pandemic indeed slowed our activities within the correctional facilities, this year 2022 we were able to access a new prison within the Federal Capital Territory called Kuje Medium Security and Custodian Centre.
Through our informal progressive program, we trained twenty-five (25) students in Abuja prison and 18 students in Otukpo, Benue State. The journey was very challenging but extremely rewarding with following milestones
1
We had our first-ever football match in prison between Dream Again Academy students and the prison All-Stars, this event brought so much joy and happiness to inmates and staff.
2
We trained our students on community building, which they in turn put into practice before their graduation, they were able to reach out to nine hundred and forty-seven inmates with Dettol soaps as part of their learning in our training.
3
We also have something new for other students, we called it the Give Back Week (GBW), this came with amazing impact as the focus of the give back week is to have our students pick an inmate who isn’t part of our program and contribute something positive into the personal life by the showing them care. Each student to class to share his experience in class
4
During the course of our program three of our students gain their freedom, and one of them gave funds to support his driving school program.
5
Graduation pictures of our students in Kuje Medium Security Custodian Centre Abuja, June 21, 2022. Each one of our students was given a copy of my book Escape From Prison sponsored by two individuals
6
Dream Again Prison and Youth Foundation was able to rregisterKuje prison as a centre for Technical Examinations Board fully funded by us. NABTEB is a Nigerian examination board that conducts examinations for technical and business innovation colleges
7
We were able to secure the release of a 19-year-old convict paying his fine, we ought a grinding machine for him at his request as a way of re-integrating him back into society.
8
Livelihood is crucial to curbing reoffending crime, and even more important for anyone with prison experience to be self-employed or become a business owner.
The European Journal of Scientific Research Statistics shows that there has been a steep rise in recidivism in Nigeria: 35% in 2007, 44% in 2008, 52.4% in 2010, and 50% in 2019. Globally, between 20% to 63% of ex-convicts relapse into crime within two years after their release from prison.
Because of this, the Dream Again Prison and Youth Foundation in collaboration with Jela’s Development Initiatives worked with Mr Seun Onakoya of the @Goodworths Partners Ltd who is a business consultant, he took our students on a three amazing days journey to help our students understand business as a system.
Thank you for your support of our non-profit and for your commitment to making the world a better place. Together, we can achieve our mission and create a brighter future for all.
Bashir Adamu
Founder, The Dream Again Prison and Youth Foundation.