Post-prison Support for 300 Women in Sierra Leone

We are delighted to report the recent progress of the women in our Go-Bifo group. Go-Bifo, meaning “Moving Forward” in Krio, is a group of ex-detainees who we work with to help rebuild their lives post-prison.

In December, AdvocAid launched “Kolonko,” a documentary about the lives of sex workers in Sierra Leone and the abuse they face at the hands of clients and the police. Following the press conference, we held a public screening at a cinema in Freetown to great success. At the event, we arranged a stall to exhibit the hard work of our beneficiaries and sell the jewellery made by our Go-Bifo women; the necklaces and earrings had disappeared by the end of the evening! It was fantastic to see the work of our beneficiaries admired and appreciated, and has been so rewarding seeing the positive effects that this has had on the women and their lives. One member told us that, with the proceeds from the sale, she was able to buy new clothing for her 7-month-old son.

Through the money raised from the jewellery sales at the film screening, the Go-Bifo women were able to spend time with, and provide for, their families over the festive period, something which they may not have been able to do otherwise. When we returned to the office in January, we were thrilled to see the women had also used the money they made to purchase more beads and materials with which to make new jewellery and beaded tote bags. AdvocAid is exceptionally proud to see these women developing their talents and reaping the benefits of such dedicated work; by focusing on building a better future for themselves and their families, our Go-Bifo women are reducing the possibility of running into conflict with the law again and are developing sustainable livelihoods to feed and care for themselves and their families.

It is the through the support we receive from our donors that we are able to maintain and develop the Go-Bifo group and provide them with more materials and opportunities to make their jewellery and tote bags. Last year, the donations we generously received on GlobalGiving enabled us to expand the Go-Bifo group by 20 women, almost doubling numbers! Often, women face extreme challenges following detention in prison, with many ostracised from their communities, out of employment, and unable to support themselves. AdvocAid would like to thank you, our donors, for enabling these women to rebuild their lives after prison. We encourage you to circulate this report with your contacts so that they too can help women in Sierra Leone prosper following their release from prison.

Please sign up to our newsletter, via our website, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get the latest news about AdvocAid’s work.

Links:

• Visit our website
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter

In Sierra Leone, when women are released from the hands of the law, they often face overwhelming hardships. These include social exclusion, limited employment opportunities, and financial instability. It is not uncommon for ex-detainees to be ostracised by their friends and family, due to the shame associated with being a prisoner. Women and girls who have been in conflict with the law feel the aggravated effects of these issues because of their status as secondary citizens in society. They are frequently left with limited ownership of property and poor employment opportunities; more often than not, female detainees are dependent on male family members for socio-economic security when they are released.

AdvocAid believes that reintegration back into society is key to ensuring that former prisoners do not reoffend. Our support of women in conflict with the law extends beyond representation in court; the holistic nature of our work provides these women with the tools they need to successfully rebuild their lives. One such incident was our work with Mariama* and her family earlier this year.

Mariama suffered at the hands of the law in Freetown. Caught up in a conflict with her neighbour, Mariama was falsely accused of assault and wounding, two crimes which can carry lengthy prison sentences if convicted. Thankfully, AdvocAid were able to mediate the issue and convinced the court that an informal resolution between the two parties would be the most appropriate course of action.

Unfortunately, however, Mariama’s grievances did not end with her legal resolution. Mariama looks after her blind husband and 4-year-old son, and is the sole earner of her family. However, prolonged time in detention and in court meant that she was unable to work for almost a month and so could not provide for her blind husband and child. In order to prevent Mariama and her family from further suffering, AdvocAid provided Mariama with financial and welfare support 

With no job to return to following her release from court, Mariama struggled to feed her family. Whilst she intently sought work, Mariama could not find anything permanent or sustainable. This is not uncommon for recently released women and AdvocAid sought to give Mariama the assistance she needed to get back on her feet. AdvocAid offered Mariama a week of paid work in our office in Freetown; working as an in-house office assistant provided her with the opportunity to develop new skills and gain valuable experience working in an office. AdvocAid saw this vocational training as a way to increase Mariama’s chances of finding employment thereafter. We were thrilled when Mariama recently informed us that she has found work; employed as a housekeeper, she assists with cooking and cleaning duties for families in her local community.

When Mariama returned to her home, she was unable to pay for her son to go school. However, Mariama’s conflict with the law should not cost her son his education. For this reason, AdvocAid gave Mariama a donation of Le 200,000 so that her 4-year-old child could continue to study. As part of her welfare pack, AdvocAid also donated food supplies to feed Mariama and her family for a month and clothing to last up to a year. This was invaluable in ensuring that Mariama’s integration back into her home life, and as the caregiver of her family, was as smooth and successful as possible. Mariama is pleased with her transition back to her home life; she is delighted that her son is able to continue with his education and she feels like a valued member of her community again 

AdvocAid were able to support Mariama through the money generously given by our donors. The support we receive through GlobalGiving enables us to help ex-detainees transition back into life with their families. Earlier this year, we provided 19 women who had been recently released from prison with counselling support, transportation assistance to their homes, clothing, food, and sanitation products. This helped to reduce the stress of returning to their communities and enabled these women to start anew. AdvocAid and the women and girls we represent are extremely grateful for the support we receive from our donors at GlobalGiving. Please circulate this report with your contacts and encourage them to donate to this project, or to one of our other GlobalGiving projects, so that more women and girls in Sierra Leone can be supported in their release from detention.

We encourage you to sign up to our newsletter via our website, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, to find out all the latest news about AdvocAid’s work.

*Mariama’s name has been changed to protect her identity.

Links:

• Visit our website
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter