Prison

Prison yard
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Prison Journalism: Survival of the fittest

Wesley Leong was incarcerated at the age of 15 in 1996 at Pollsmoor Prison. He is currently part of Restore’s research and reintegration project.

Prison

Prison yard
Image via Unsplash

In this life we live in these days, it is very ruthless and cold. We, as people, are so deep in it only for ourselves and towards our own benefit. If it be in our relationships with others or in our homes, what happened to helping those that are less important or fortunate?

What I see going on at street level

As I spend a lot of time with others that are suffering on the street, I noticed that there are people who look at them lower. They walk on the other side of the road, almost like we forgot that could happen to any of us. People have sadly forgotten that we are all children of God. We forget about the fact that being a Christian is to help those less fortunate.

NGO, NPO, and charity work

So many organisations are out there only doing the work for those less fortunate only to benefit themselves. While I was living at the time on the streets, I came across so many places that help out those in need, but the treatment you receive is less human than you get in a different situation. It really is sad. Please don’t misunderstand me; there are those people that do charity work for helping those less fortunate to actually help the homeless, and they treat you like an equal, no matter how small you are or how you look, including your situation.

Fastest live the longest

When you find yourself in a position less fortunate, you will come across those who are in the same boat. However, they don’t seem to want to better themselves or their situation. They abuse drugs and continue to allow others around them to suffer, instead of helping one another. They make it their duty to not only bring down everyone but to make the help that is available become a lot less. It’s due to that that the people helping those in need withdraw because of being associated with these people.

In conclusion, I would like to explain a few points. First, I want to say thank you to all those people that played a vital role in assisting me and my situation to get off the streets (you know who you are). To those who are still suffering on the streets, keep your head up and stay strong. Now to the points I need to explain:

Not everybody works at the same level, surely you are aware of this. Given that on the streets those who suffer and are homeless are individuals that are gangsters and actively involved with crime, they only seem to have one desire, and that is literally to destroy and take the very last thing of those in suffering. How does one take from another that already has nothing to take? If you are fast enough, you can prevent it from happening. Your life has to speed up, or you will be left with nothing, so it consumes you with no wider perspective towards life as it moves so fast. If you were permitted the time to take a moment to think about things in your life, it will end your existence. It is the work of the devil. The fastest live the longest. Me, personally, I will choose a life of peace, nice and slow, and if it will mean to live a shorter life, then so be it! Either way, I am coming home!!

DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

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