New Era Newspaper

New Era Epaper
Icon Collap
...
Home / Female inmates showered with love

Female inmates showered with love

2021-02-16  Paheja Siririka

Female inmates showered with love

Female prisoners held at the Windhoek Correctional Facility were in for a treat on Valentine’s Day on Sunday after NBC employees donated sanitary products and gave advice on self-love and awareness on mental health issues. 

NBC’s Lucy Kautwima and Sharon Malumo paid the inmates a visit as part of an initiative adopted from Refreshing Moments, a radio programme that airs on NBC National FM on Sundays, produced and presented by Kautwima. 

The radio personality told New Era the show caters to all inmates around the country and is widely listened to by many Namibians – both inside and outside prison. The programme aims to educate, inform and inspire inmates serving time in correctional facilities around the country. 
“The programme also speaks to former inmates who have been integrated back into society and are not shy to talk about their experience. We also speak to pastors, psychologists and motivational speakers,” added Kautwima.

“Now and then, I get opportunities to visit the inmates to talk about issues and challenges affecting them and the changes they would like to make – for those in lower units I encourage them to make use of the opportunities offered to them in the correctional facility; sometimes, they suggest topics to discuss on the radio show.” 

She showed a passion for the programme and added that anyone who has struggled in life deserves a second chance to get back on their feet and realise their true potential.  

“The idea that no one should be judged by their worst moment lies at the heart of my passion for criminal justice reform and many other issues. When it comes to people with criminal convictions, we know that sometimes rehabilitation motivation and inspiration is an important factor in staying out of trouble and keeping re-offending rates low,” shared Kautwima. 

“I applaud the First Lady’s office for also doing her part in having programmes that assist offenders, and I hope to have her on the Refreshing Moments show one day. What I hope the program will achieve is to have offenders rehabilitated and can be effectively reintegrated into society, with renewed hope of a better and crime-free life.” 

The duo donated sanitary pads while businesswoman and author Penehafo Endjala gave the inmates her books to read – at the same time preaching the importance of self-love. 

“We should be thankful for how far we have come and survived. We should truly be patient with ourselves. Self-love may not happen overnight. But with time, it will settle itself into our hearts by practising it. Knowing something and doing it is a different thing. Let us love ourselves unconditionally,” said Endjala. 

“You are here today but remember you are fully a human being like everyone else; you can change by starting today. We can learn from our mistake and grow from who we once were into who we are today. You are still alive for a reason; embrace your past and the present moment – organise your life and document the new you. You know yourself better than anyone else, so be your best supporter.”
- psiririka@nepc.com.na


2021-02-16  Paheja Siririka

Share on social media