By Vasinatta Yama – EM TV, Port Moresby
Recently, the Correctional Service announced that the way forward for them is to review the National Prison System, and the Department’s Institutional structure and legislative framework. For the inmates, more rehabilitation programs are planned to nurture them to contribute in a more positive way in the society.
Churches and the non-governmental organisations have become strong partners with the CS to achieve this milestone. Papa Sam Foundation, is one such organisation that has sponsored 360 inmates this year, throughout the country to undergo a Personal Viability course.
It is a two week training program that is aimed at giving love, faith and hope to the prisoners so that they can have skills to contribute positively in the society. At Bomana recently, 60 graduated. Among them were 10 female prisoners.
The five other jails that have also undergone this training are Buimo, Beon, Baisu, Lakiemata, and Kavieng. Dr Samuel Tam, founder of Papa Sam Foundation, also runs the Entrepreneurial Development Training Centre, or EDTC. Trainings are based on building self-confidence, and how best to use their inbuilt personalities to start their own income generating projects.
Many of the participants were Grade 6 and 8 school leavers, who testified at the graduation. Dr Tam told the graduates that the real transformation is within them.
EDTC Patron, Sir Samson Lowa, encouraged the inmates that there is always a life and hope at the end of everything they do. The training program achieved one of CS milestone, in delivering their rehabilitation programs, in terms of Business Training.
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