Thoughts on Continued Improvements 2024
The men’s section wood-fed stoves are in shambles and need a major overhaul. Furthermore, an outdoor stove similar to the one built in the boys section should be constructed in the women's section. Giving women more control over their diets will reduce their dependence on cooked food from the men's section.
A project worth seriously considering would be to renovate the men's chambers, The leaking tin roof sheeting should be replaced and the space reconstructed to provide adequate ventilation. This would be a huge undertaking, but would reduce suffering and save lives. We didn't inspect the men's section carefully enough to be able to make further recommendations.
An ample energy supply is dire. With no functioning fans in the sleeping chambers, the oppressive heat and humidity is unbearable and actually dangerous. Even at our hotel, we often endured up to twenty-hours of power cuts, having difficulty sleeping in mosquito infested bungalows.
In addition, a tent-like covering is needed for the boy's courtyard. The boys wear plastic eating bowls as "hats" when they squat outside for roll call and announcements.
The locked sleeping chambers need painting and disinfecting. It is incongruous to have spanking clean toilets and then grimy walls crawling with spiders and who knows what else. One kid was suffering from a swollen eye because of fleas or bedbugs.This kind of thing is preventable.
Now that the sewage system is fixed, it’s time to replace the men’s toilets, similar to what we did in the women and minor section.
We also would like to begin the prison farmland (camp penale) project, working towards self-sustainable food security. This would entail rebuilding the buildings which were destroyed by a cyclone and expand the area under cultivation.
Ensure that the kids have a healthy snack before they are locked up in the evening. This could be accomplished by having more frequent cooking classes. At present, their last meal is around 1-2 pm and they don’t eat again until about 10 am the next morning. While Grandir Dignement provides a bowl of rice porridge to the children every morning, this "luxury" is not extended to the rest of the prison population.
In the men and women’s’ section, the one and only “meal” is provided mid afternoon. The long-term solution for ensuring adequate nutrition for inmates in Malagasy prisons remains unclear. Unfortunately, by the time this issue is addressed, if ever, many more individuals will have already died of starvation.
Addressing the state of medical services in the prisons is crucial and merits further discussion. Starting a medical emergency fund through Grandir Dignement for the minors could be a first step.
Addressing the state of legal aid services is a challenge and merits further discussion. Initial thoughts are that if an experienced lawyer could be hired sooner rather than later, it may be possible to reduce the number of inmates. This, in turn, could facilitate funding for initiatives such as proper nutrition, improved healthcare, and infrastructure renovations.
Grandir Dignement's provision of re-entry programs and offering travel fares home is an effort aimed at curbing recidivism. However they only work in six prisons and focus solely on juveniles. Releasing prisoners in general without the means to get home or buy a simple meal often results in petty theft and ending right back in jail.
Vocational Training is a worthy goal but is currently unrealistic due to persistent electricity outages. Training programs requiring electricity to run equipment must be put on hold until the power issue is resolved. Grandir Dignement has implemented several programs that teach practical skills such a soap making, chicken raising, basket making, and cooking. We may wish to coordinate efforts with them in the future.
A "one room schoolhouse" model with a professional teacher can be developed for kids to progress in their educational pursuits and re-enter the school system when freed.
