Prisoners are people too
In the run-up to Easter 2018, the Peter and Paul Church in the Good Shepherd Parish in Tilburg is committed to a project of the Brothers CMM in collaboration with the Fr. Grol’s Welfare Trust: ‘Prisoners are People too‘. This foundation is concerned with the welfare of prisoners in Kenya, and is specifically focused on one of the works of mercy: visiting the prisoners. In Kenya, the situation in prisons is deplorable. They are overcrowded and there are no means for the prisoners outside simple food and water.
Support
The people of the foundation have access to almost all prisons in Kenya. They visit the prisoners and try to improve living conditions with small things. This is done by providing products for personal hygiene such as soap, toothpaste, and sanitary pads, but also magazines, books and games for recreation, which reduces stress and riots. Medical support is also provided, ranging from plasters to glasses and even wheelchairs. Where possible, education is also offered, and even official examinations.
A new life
When prisoners are released, the foundation tries to support them with tools to earn a living, for example carpenters tools. These tools come to Kenya via the Dutch organization ‘Gered Gereedschap‘ (‘Saved Tools’). For many prisoners, this is a realistic chance to build a new life earning their own income. Even more important than this material support is perhaps the personal attention for the prisoners. Often the people from the foundation pray together with the prisoners, and that is of great significance. A lot is possible within this project with relatively small amounts of money. At the same time, a considerable amount of money is needed for the continuation of the foundation as a whole.
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