NCJ Number
181640
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 62 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2000 Pages: 71-73
Date Published
February 2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article examines a South African program designed to convince youngsters not to turn to crime.
Abstract
More than 400 youthful offenders have participated in the program called “Khulisa,” a Zulu word meaning “let the child grow.” It is Khulisa’s belief that communities must be responsible for young offenders by recognizing that the problems of youths reflect the problems of the community. From an original group of 40 volunteers, 22 have been released. Eleven now form a team of “change catalysts,” seven of whom have been on parole for more than 1 year. Only two, from a selection of 16 candidates, have recidivated. Each group member, after release, undergoes in-depth therapy, as well as training in communication and public presentation skills, to ensure that the young person’s desire to make reparation is received attentively, not only in the corporate sector, but also by communities at all levels. In addition, all group members receive lessons in “ubuntu,” the African philosophy which states that “a person is only a person through other people.” The courses have been developed and written through facilitation and cooperation between inmates and professionals in penology, corrections, education and psychology.