Prison Journalism: Self-improvement and restorative justice

Prison Journalism: Self-improvement and restorative justiceThabo Mthembu was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Prison from 2014 to 2019. Read Thabo's story

by Thabo Mthembu

02-02-2024 08:58

in Prison Journalism

Prison

Image by unsplash

If you want anything in life, know that nothing that lasts ever comes easy, and the most lessons of life come from what is learnt from the hard times. So, welcome the hard times with open arms and embrace all these life lessons out there, and make use of them to improve on that masterpiece being our savior! I look at this world and marvel at the fact that all people are the same, even if we think the next person is better than the next!

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End of Jan I bet; I am not the only person who would like to just shout at the top of their lungs on top of the highest mountain. It is a well-known fact that the month of Jan is also a challenging month. For myself, I see that when it comes to making changes to my life, it means doing the hard thing of weighing everything in my life and cutting out anything and everyone who does not have anything positive to contribute. The main lesson learned is to identify the truth of yourself and your own negatives and positives.

ALSO READ: Prison Journalism: My Journey from release to renewal

The New Year It is strange how being out of prison now for the last four years, and yet I still feel like a person locked up in captivity as the world outside seems to share the same trajectories as the prison system does of being inside, such as my first salary, which was R13 for the month. Outside it seems like things people seem to be getting a life while the cost of living seems to be high and just increasing with every blind to the eye, and everybody, let me say rather most people, have hidden views.

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How I Kicked Off my New Year Firstly, I started my year with strategies and well-being as well as due to the fact every connection told me that I need to wait till Feb, while in the meantime hanging on a thin string hustling here and there, earning raw.

ALSO READ: Prison Journalism: A vision for change in the New Year

At least I know that in Feb I have things set up hopefully for a positive outcome like earning a job or opportunity reconnected with a friend, bosses, and former friends I used to do business with, so all I have to do is bide my time.

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Restorative Justice Restore, the NGO I am currently busy with, has a few new programmes set up for Feb, such as a reintegration programme, hopefully, it will assist me with goals uplifting myself with useful tools to improve my stand in life: financially and life skills.

World as Is As it is, it is clear that everyone is in a state of rehabilitating, and the only way forward is to improve oneself, then and can improve one's environment, help those you can!

ALSO READ: Prison Journalism: Re-integrating offenders into society

ALSO READ: Prison Journalism: New Year in Jail

DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

Should you wish to assist in the rehabilitation of former inmates and help put money into the pockets of those who have struggled to earn a living during and after incarceration, click HERE

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

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