Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

French Give Support to Training Ex-cons

Home Archived French Give Support to Training Ex-cons

By Frederick Philander WINDHOEK THE French ambassador to Namibia on Thursday donated 10 much needed computers worth more than N$70 000 to Criminals Return Into Society (CRIS) at the organisation’s headquarters in Khomasdal. According to the director of CRIS, Michaela Hubschle, the organization that was established five years ago presently has 3 000 ex-convicts as members countrywide. “The issue of training and skills development is very important in Namibia. Everybody agrees that training is a priority in preparing people for the local job market. At CRIS, the situation is different because the objective is different in so far as the organization allows former prisoners to acquire skills and qualifications, which will facilitate their return into the society, a very worthwhile endeavour,” said ambassador Phillippe de la Bathie at the handing over ceremony. The ambassador alluded to the fact that his embassy has in the past financially supported security and crime prevention efforts in the country. “We have provided the Windhoek Central Prison equipment for sewing classes and leatherworks as part of training to convicts serving their sentences. Presently, we are also supporting the Ministry of Safety and Security in efforts to set up a community service programme, hopefully to be widely used by former offenders as part of re-integration into the Namibian society,” the ambassador, who praised the management of CRIS for its contribution towards the creation of a more tolerant and peaceful society, said. CRIS is in the process of creating regional centres for its operations and educational activities. “Presently all our efforts are focused on the Khomas Region, but we are already accommodating ex-convicts from the regions and even ex-criminals from neighbouring countries as students. The Vocational Training Centre in Khomasdal is directly involved in this programme,” said director Michaela Hubschle in accepting the donation. Full time tutor, Jean Chiketa, welcomed the donation on behalf of the current 70 students in needlework and costume design under her control at the Khomasdal centre. “Up to now, we had to make do with only four computers, collectively used by all students at the same time. With this donation, we can go far in training ex-convicts in efforts to prevent them from slipping back into criminality,” Chiketa said.