Prison journalism: Reflections on a World in Transition

December 2023, the final stretch of the year, and it’s clear that the COVID pandemic has affected and left the world with bitter after-effects of change. All over the world, even religious people are looking at all the after-effects as a sign of the end. Scientists are talking about a world reset, like what happened with the dinosaurs, and with all these different problems, nobody seems to be thinking about what positive legacy we can leave behind, seeing it’s the end.

Political Power Struggles and Corporate Dominance

Politicians still fight, trying their best to discredit each other, as powerhouse, big, first-world companies seem to be the only faction with the true power.

Learning from Life’s Journey

I’ve been blessed to have learned by my life’s journey so far from those whom I’ve encountered that it’s not what you’ve done in the past that counts, but the positive changes that matter most. I don’t know who or what kind of people exactly will be reading my articles; all I would want is to live and be able to become one of those millions of people who are actually able to be that positive change.

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The Struggle of the Marginalized

Citizens in my country are suffering, and it’s even harder when you’re labelled with the mark of an ex-convict, with unemployment, poverty, homelessness on the rise. Most of the country’s population falls short into the category of less fortunate. It’s evident in every city that ghettos grow, and more developments and money is spent on relocating poor people to places far away from CBDs or areas with a glimpse of positive living conditions. In those areas, there are normally no social awareness programs set up to assist communities with upliftment programs.

The Need for Inclusive Upliftment Programs

These programs need to give those with a criminal record option better than falling back into their old ways, and nurturing the youth and providing them with tools and structures they would need to actually become great. This includes middle-aged members of those communities. And then, as well, the middle and upper classes need programs in changing the way they look at those other classes.

At the end of it all, classism divides nations and is the greatest enemy of any and every state.

ALSO READ: Prison journalism: Things that still stick with you once you’re out of prison

DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

RESTORE is an NGO based in Cape Town, South Africa, providing inmates at Pollsmoor Prison with restorative justice opportunities.

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