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LACAP inmates dance at the Awareness Event
Last Thursday the GRCF staff went to prison once again. For a good cause, of course! Throughout the last few months we have continued to support the LACAP project started by inmates in Losperfontein Maximum Security. As mentioned in previous posts, the goal of LACAP (Losperfontein Anti Crime Awareness Project) is to fight crime by raising awareness with youth about why crime does not pay, helping local schools get the materials they need to give kids a proper education, and helping build a positive attitude and encourage skills development within the prison in order to prevent re-offending. The LACAP members have all done some terrible things, and although they are resigned to their sentences, they decided they could still do good and atone for what they had done from within prison walls while helping ensure that others did not make the same mistakes that they had.
One of the ways in which LACAP attempts to raise awareness is through campaigns within the prison. Through careful
GRCF COO, Christine Delport, gives the keynote speech
planning and full participation of correctional officials, the LACAP group planned one such large event for last week. In attendance were the most at risk youth of local schools as well as students from the University of Pretoria, GRCF staff, media, local businesses and other interested parties. There were in total about 400 people present. During the day, the inmates told stories of how they had come to be in prison and what prison life is really like. They did not hold back on the truth, nor did they try to sugar coat it. The inmates also performed songs and dances and did a wonderful job of acting out a play about crime. For the students and other attendees it was a real eye opener, and a once in a lifetime experience. Among the speakers of the day the GRCF’s own COO, Christine Delport, gave an inspirational keynote speech about the choices that we make, while GRCF staff members Maletlotlo Nyenye and Lana Lovasic gave their own personal stories and words of encouragement to the inmates who have decided to turn their lives around.
At the press conference at the end of the day Ms. Delport also announced that the GRCF will be making a donation of 6 computers to the learning center located within the prison. These computers will be for LACAP members and inmates pursuing their studies from behind prison walls, as well as for visiting students doing research at the prison. We are proud to support the LACAP members in their pursuit of atoning for their pasts and helping others steer clear of a life of crime. It is never too late to make a difference to yourself and to others; and while we must all take responsibility for our pasts and accept the consequences of our actions, there is always hope and there is always a choice.
