By Doh James Sonkey
The Superintendent in charge of the Kondengui Central Prison in Yaounde, Medjo Fredy Armand and the General Supervisor of the Bilingual Socio Education Centre of the prison, Ali Eric Jiti have expressed gratitude to the National Director of the Duke of Edingburgh, Sanyi Emmanuel for multifaceted support dished out to promote the education and social insertion preparation of minor inmates at the Kondengui Central Prison in the nation capital.
The words of gratitude were showered on the Duke of Edingburgh’s International Award Cameroon for impacting the educational lives of minors through the implementation of what is known as Alternative Pathways project at the bilingual school during the official school reopening last October 3, 2018.
At the school for minors, the project supported the setup and training of young people in ICTs, bag weaving and tailoring.
In demonstration of their skills, minors wore uniforms sewn by the Alternative Pathways project participants themselves for the 2018/2019 school year.
Talking to reporters, the National Director of the Duke of Edingburgh, Sanyi Emmanuel Sanyi explained that “Alternative Pathways project is conceived by the Duke of Edingburgh’s International Award Cameroon with a pilot phase implemented with support from the Australian government through Direct Aid Programme in prisons, correctional centres for at-risk young people and other vocational training centres in Cameroon. The project aims to support the process of rehabilitation of young people caught in the cycle of crime, violence and/or abuse and prepare them for social reinsertion through a combination of entrepreneurial skills training, peace building engagements and sporting activities. It equips and offers young people alternative possibilities for a better life.”
Crowned by a football final between minors of quarter 13 at Kondengui prison and their age mates from the outside world, the official reopening day attended by other inmates such as former Secretary of State at Ministry of Public Works, Louis Max Ohanja was punctuated with the songs in French and English and an exhibition of bags.