By Vasinatta Yama, EM TV – Mt Hagen
The Mt Hagen Catholic Diocese rehabilitation program for prisoners at the Baisu Jail in Western Highlands Province has seen positive impacts. Led by the Baisu Jail Chaplin, Father Robert Noli, prisoners were given livestock to look after and food gardens to tend.
Parish Priest, Father Robert Noli, was pleased to preach about how the program has impacted the prisoners socially, mentally and physically. The Church’s rehabilitation and reintegration program is to provide livestock and food gardens for prisoners to change their behaviour so that after leaving the prison they can return home with their animals and start a new life.
Initiated by the Mt Hagen Catholic Diocese in year 2014, the prisoners at Baisu Jail currently have over 50 ducks, 20 pigs, 20 goats, over 5000 fish and they are also looking after village and stock feed chickens.
The prisoners are now focused on looking after the animals and selling them to make money. The program will continue however, it needs support from the Correctional Service, and the local and National Governments to partner with the church to strengthen it.
Father Robert says prisoners are interested in the program which has seen positive feedbacks after returning to their villages. Their families and communities were happy to welcome them back as changed persons.
