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Words of Life: Literacy Work in PNG Prisons
A
visionary Bible Society literacy project is creating a more positive
future for the 4,000men and women serving time in Papua New Guinea’s
prisons.
Many are short-term detainees, incarcerated for relatively
minor crimes in a prison system offering little in the way of
rehabilitation services.
This project not only presents inmates with
a goal and purpose in life after their release; it also provides a
much-needed service to their home communities, where illiteracy rates
can be as high as 50%.
Bible-based literacy classes will be conducted within each of PNG’s 18 prisons. Selected trainees will then undertake ‘Train the Trainer’ workshops so they in turn can offer literacy training to other detainees under supervision, and conduct literacy classes in their home communities upon their release.
Literacy-trained detainees will also help translate simple Bible-based stories into their heart language that will prove invaluable resources when conducting literacy training in their local village.
Prison officials have lent their full support to this project. Corrective Services staff have been conducting literacy training in some prisons, but they are crying out for adequate materials, financial resources and trained personnel.
Selected partner agencies with literacy education expertise will work alongside Bible Society to bolster these existing activities, offering practical support, supervision and training.
With your help, we can offer hope and the opportunity for a fresh start to many throughout PNG. Please send us your tax deductible donation with the coupon on the back page of the magazine, phone our donor line on 1300 552 537, or donate on line using your credit card at www.biblesocietynsw.com.au
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