Group of Hope

However, the group has now expanded to include a number of other projects. The inmates are taught different skills, in order to be able to find jobs when they are released. The skills taught include sewing, vegetable gardening, beadworks, financial management, arts and crafts, and managerial skills. The inmates also “adopt” HIV+ children in the area, and send clothes, duvets and blankets made to the foster families of these children. Some blankets and duvets are also sent to local hospitals. Vegetables grown are sent to the foster families, as well as to orphanages, old age homes, and other needy people in the community. The Group of Hope inmates also give talks to other inmates, schools, and farm workers about HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, and crime prevention. Hospitalised inmates are visited and encouraged by group members. All the group members are also registered on the international bone-marrow register. The main aim of this project is to challenge the perception that prisoners cannot play a positive role in the community, and to give them skills to be able to obtain employment when released. The project is in the process of registering a NPO called “Group of Hope Developments”. This company will hopefully provide employment for inmates released.

Innovation

The project is managed entirely by inmates, which is unique as usually projects of this kind are started by outside agencies. Maximum security prisoners have found ways to tender services to the community due to the fact that they are long-term and as a way of reintegrating them into the community. South Africa's correctional services are weak on rehabilitation and this project enables prisoners to use their creativity to produce goods that are channeled back into communities.

Effectiveness

This project has already been expanded to 9 other locations. Positive acknowledgement has been received by the media, and interest has been received by various countries, including Indonesia, Namibia, Swaziland and the Netherlands.

Poverty Impact

To date 145 inmates are directly involved in training; 1396 are indirectly involved (through info sessions and skills development); and 597 members of the community have benefited from the project as they make clothes for AIDS orphans; grow vegetables for old age homes and educate the community about crime and drug prevention.

Sustainability

There is one main obstacle to the sustainability of this project, funding. Prisoners are able to generate income but government has to provide ongoing funding for prisoners to be able to set up their project and consolidate it. Thus far, there have been more requests to join than Group of Hope has been able to accommodate.

Replication

This project has already been replicated in 9 other locations. The success of replication will depend on receiving permission from the Department of Correctional Services, to train inmates and monitor the projects.  The South African Police also started a project called “Adopt a family” after seeing what Group of Hope does.

Partnerships

• National Correctional Services Department
• Provincial Correctional Services Department
• Protector Group
• Old Mutual
• Rapport
• World Bank
• Bernina Worcester
• Hextex
• Lorraine Forbes Trust Fund

Visit www.groupofhope.co.za for more information