Phil in Paris
12-29-2004, 09:02 PM
29 December, 2004
GABORONE - The departments of sports and recreation and that of culture and youth have joined hands to exploit the possibility of extending sport development to inmates at the Boys Prison in Gaborone.
Speaking at the Prison recently, sports and recreation Director Edmond Dladla said inmates should be turned into professionals for them to lead meaningful and responsible lives once they get released from prison.
He said inmates should be transformed such that they come out of prison as role models to both their fellow inmates and the youth outside prison.
Dladla said his department has a vision to produce as many professionals as possible. "If former prisoners such as the world renowned Mike Tyson can do it then you can do it," he quipped.
He said the department, which make policies for Botswana National Sport Council and its 33 sporting codes, would ensure that this cherished dream becomes a reality.
For his part, director of Culture and Youth, Gaogakwe Phorano, said the initiative is the brainchild of the Commissioner of Prisons and Rehabilitation. He said it came at an opportune time, adding that other stakeholders should be involved to realise this dream.
He further said his department has a strategic area of "youth and crime and youth in difficult circumstances." Phorano told the inmates that after serving time in prison they could access grants from his department to undertake projects that could better their lives, adding that those aged between 12 and 29 would be accorded such assistance.
"We also encourage those of you whose dreams of continuing with their education got shattered by incarceration to seek assistance from us so that you could continue." The inmates thanked the two departments for coming to their rescue and made the assurance that they would seize the opportunity to better their lives and not repeat the mistakes that landed them in jail.
Besides football, other sporting activities to be introduced for the young inmates would include softball, karate, boxing, athletics, squash and table tennis.
Gaborone Boys prison, whose holding capacity is 120, currently houses 261 inmates. BOPA
http://www.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=20041229&i=Departments_join_hands_to_help_inmates_at_Boys_P rison
GABORONE - The departments of sports and recreation and that of culture and youth have joined hands to exploit the possibility of extending sport development to inmates at the Boys Prison in Gaborone.
Speaking at the Prison recently, sports and recreation Director Edmond Dladla said inmates should be turned into professionals for them to lead meaningful and responsible lives once they get released from prison.
He said inmates should be transformed such that they come out of prison as role models to both their fellow inmates and the youth outside prison.
Dladla said his department has a vision to produce as many professionals as possible. "If former prisoners such as the world renowned Mike Tyson can do it then you can do it," he quipped.
He said the department, which make policies for Botswana National Sport Council and its 33 sporting codes, would ensure that this cherished dream becomes a reality.
For his part, director of Culture and Youth, Gaogakwe Phorano, said the initiative is the brainchild of the Commissioner of Prisons and Rehabilitation. He said it came at an opportune time, adding that other stakeholders should be involved to realise this dream.
He further said his department has a strategic area of "youth and crime and youth in difficult circumstances." Phorano told the inmates that after serving time in prison they could access grants from his department to undertake projects that could better their lives, adding that those aged between 12 and 29 would be accorded such assistance.
"We also encourage those of you whose dreams of continuing with their education got shattered by incarceration to seek assistance from us so that you could continue." The inmates thanked the two departments for coming to their rescue and made the assurance that they would seize the opportunity to better their lives and not repeat the mistakes that landed them in jail.
Besides football, other sporting activities to be introduced for the young inmates would include softball, karate, boxing, athletics, squash and table tennis.
Gaborone Boys prison, whose holding capacity is 120, currently houses 261 inmates. BOPA
http://www.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=20041229&i=Departments_join_hands_to_help_inmates_at_Boys_P rison