A brighter future awaits four offenders who are incarcerated at the Windhoek Correctional Facility after they competed and bagged two silver medals at a recent 3rd National Skills Competition (NSCO) at Ongwediva.
The performance and sportsmanship displayed by the offenders left a mark on the Deputy Executive Director in the Ministry of Higher Education, Training, and Innovation, Dr. Raimo Naanda, who, in his personal capacity, sourced sponsorships to enable them to further their abilities once they are released.
The offenders competed in bricklaying, floor and wall tiling, automobile technologies, and plumbing.
Their discipline evoked emotions in Dr. Raimo Naanda, who further secured tools for each of the offenders that would allow them to start their businesses once they regained their freedom.
"After the competition, I decided to meet them to ask when they would be released. One of them indicated that he would be released this month. I asked him, upon your release, what are you going to do? He said he would look for a job. I said to him, 'No, he must start a business'. Then he asked, 'How will I start a business without tools?' I said to him, 'Don't worry about tools; let me sort that out for you'."
Patrick Gariseb and Lawrence Tjiundja both scooped silver medals in Automobile Technologies and Tiling.
Gariseb also graduated on Friday from the Namibia University of Science and Technology with a bachelor's degree in logistics.
Both Gariseb and Tjiundja are set to be released in the following few weeks, and Dr. Naanda is cognizant of the fact that offenders, after being released, still find it challenging to secure jobs, not forgetting social stereotypes.
"When you are released, you are expected to have rehabilitated yourself, and I can assure you, it is not an easy task because the employer will ask you, 'Can you give me your CV?' Imagine that you have been at this facility for 10 years. That person will say, 'No, I do not have a job for you'."
The Namibia Correctional Services Deputy Commissioner General Mariana Martin expressed gratitude, highlighting the importance of the gesture by Dr. Naanda and the sponsors, which represents hope and is an inspiration to other offenders.
"The recipients of the tools have demonstrated that with the right attitude and the right focus, with support and opportunities, individuals within the correctional services can achieve remarkable things."