for the first time in the Belgian prison history, there was a soccer game between 2 teams of inmates of 2 different prisons here in Belgium. The reactions from the people were...I was going to say 'unbelievable', but they were exactly what I expected. People were mad that their children have to pay the outfits and the visums to play soccer and that 'those criminals get everythiong for free, while they don't deserve it at all'. people were talking about locking the inmates up 24/7, just because they did something that made them end up in prison. and who's in prison, doesn't deserve any joy and entertainment and should have no rights nor privileges.

so you see people over here think the same way and it makes me mad!!

Soraya,

WOW! That is amazing! Between two prisons! Way to go.

You know and we know that there are a lot of people out there that ignorantly (and I use that term politely) think that Inmates should be locked up 24/7 and the key thrown away!

Well, we have to be realistic here and believe that certain rights and freedoms MUST be taken from Inmates because otherwise what would the punishment be?

The biggest challenge that I have is understanding why we do not introduce programs like this very one that will create "TEAM" environments and healthy competition. We lack offering Inmates anything that allows them to feel like real human beings and interacting in a real world. After all most of these people will be out one day and we starve them of day-to-day normal interaction and of course they will lose all sense of self esteem and the ability to integrate with a "normal" society again.

I can understand that this particular program would and could create a lot of controversy - more than most. I don't think that the average person out there would accept this...

But what I want to say is - Way to go Belgian!!!!!!