Prison Journalism: Ex-offenders have a place in society
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.
As an ex-offender, I have struggled to find myself a place back into society. The reintegration, the transformation of change, the community—all have been some of the issues. No more! I can proudly say I have found a place back in society.
The main focus
Along with NGOs, support systems of individuals, the community, and special individuals—none of this would even be possible. A main focus is required in our community to support the younger generation. They absorb everything at that stage in their lives. Mostly, they end up in prison or fall victim to participating in gangsterism. Ex-offenders have the power to change this!
Spending time with the youth
I noticed while trying to see exactly where the problems lie, I saw the youth constantly wanting to learn about the number and gangsterism. For me, it seems they are merely looking for a role model because the role models in the community are drug dealers and gangsters.
They basically walk, talk like us as ex-offenders/gangsters and eventually fall on that side of the line towards the future ahead. I cannot permit this, so I make myself well known to the youth in my community that I don’t tolerate any signs of them talk, walk like gangsters.
I told them if it is so and I catch them, there will be punishment (in a non-harmful way). Also, I reward them with whatever little bit I can afford: sweets, shoes, stationery just for example.
It can be possible
Believe me, this effort can have a massive effect on the way the youth sees things. Mindsets change your thinking and behaviour. Love for yourself can blossom into a brighter future. In the end, it will only overflow to the next person and so forth.
We as ex-offenders that are fighting for change not only in our own lives but also for the community we live in and those around us. Sadly, we are not in a position to do this alone. We need men of the community to assist us to drive out the evil that plagues our communities. Ex-gangsters are extremely at risk because no one worse [than] any of them, so it makes it harder for us. I truly believe this will have an impact on everybody’s lives, but we all need to stand together or, in-divided, we will fail.
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
This project in collaboration with RESTORE currently works with formerly incarcerated young men in the communities.
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