The Namibia Correctional Services held a community outreach event at Rehoboth on Saturday.

The event was meant to sensitise the community about escalating drug use and crime in Rehoboth and the importance of community outreach programmes in rehabilitating offenders.

The community outreach programme was aimed at facilitating and instilling behavioural change in offenders from the Hardap Region.

Inmates are thus empowered while paying their debts to society.

The Chairperson of the Community Advisory Committee of the community outreach programme, Abel Kaifanua, reiterated its objectives.

There are many aspects of the programme. One sees religious leaders playing a role in transforming the lives of offenders.

Pastor Edward Thaniseb emphasised the importance of spiritual healing.

Ex-offenders find it difficult to be re-introduced into society due to stigma, but those who have already served their sentences commended the Namibia Correctional Services for what they have done.

During the event, the correctional services sold vegetables from one of its gardening projects, ending the day on a high note.