InsideOut Issue 12

Insideout Magazine Issue 12 NOVEMBER 2013 Issue 12

ns i d eou t

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Insideout Magazine Issue 12

www.younginprison.org.za

info@younginprison.org.za Cpt - +27 21 448 5275 Jhb - +27 11 333 1586 YoungInPrisonSA

@YIPSouthAfrrca YIPSA

TejchevĂŠ

Impulsis The European Union Eurko Achmea Foundation 2

Open Society foundation for South Africa

CONTENTS

C Editorial................................................... 3 Emotions and behavior ........................... 4 Relationship............................................. 6 Community and Environment.................. 9 Career & Education................................ 11 Language & Expression......................... 12 Basic Human Rights................................ 13 Writing.................................................... 15

Insideout Magazine Issue 12

Tarisai Mchuchu-Ratshidi Director Rozerie Bosma General Manager Melinda Bechus Post-Release Coordinator Kholofelo Mashego Advocacy and Communications Coordinator Nkosinathi Buyana Life Skills Facilitator and Trainer Vuyokazi Magobiyane Life Skills Facilitator Owen Butler Life Skills Facilitator Tlhabanelo Diholo Life Skills Facilitator Zamani Ndlovu Project Coordinator Johannesburg Joseph Mofokeng Life Skills Facilitator Tebogo Butie Life Skills Facilitator Issue 12 was facilitated by Nkosinathi Buyana AND Owen Butler Co-facilitators Amy Young Iris Gooris Javier Perez Brynne Peluso Haley Tillage Lauren Knoke Will Vaughan Masika Lewis Matisse Yoshihara Myra Orillaze Stephen Kusemererwa Willy Borkai Magazine design Meghan Judge Young in Prison 059 – 080 – NPO 41 Community House Salt River Road Salt River, Cape Town Tel: 021 448 5275 / 011 333 1586 Fax: 021 448 3024 info@younginprison.org.za www.younginprison.org.za

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Editorial In staying true to the Inside Out philosophy of reflecting on oneself in relation to others, the participants of did just that. Issue 9 is made up of reflections from young inmates in Pollsmoor and Goodwood Correctional Centres in the Western Cape. They did this using various creative art forms to confront their past and bringing it into their present contexts in order to deal with it and take only positive lessons going into their respective futures.

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Emotions affect how we respond to various situations at different points in our lives, whether positive or negative. This is true for these participants as you shall see in this magazine.

Most of them reflected in workshops that their criminal behaviour was influenced by the way they felt at that time. It was mostly to do with an inability to control the external things that seemed beyond their control which then led to them acting They have chosen mental irresponsibly and hurting their families and communities. The freedom and focussing workshops focussed on how to control our emotions so that on the life ahead and not they do not influence us to react and behave in a manner that be defined by present harm others and have severe consequences, such as landing circumstances. up in a correctional facility.

In this issue, you will also find forward-thinking and goal-oriented poetry. It is clear that these young participants have taken freedom to go beyond their desire to be free of the physical bars that separate them from society. They have chosen mental freedom and focussing on the life ahead and not be defined by present circumstances. Our role as community members is very important and although sometimes we live in temporary communities such as prison or school, we need to care for others and not cause harm. The workshops on the community and environment focussed on such themes and as you shall see within this issue, participants had amazing ideas on they view themselves as community members. This is the vision and mission of Young in Prison, which is to empower young people to become positive, active contributing members of communities and society at large.

Young in Prison values each individual that goes through the programme as they become empowered agents of change. We are grateful to be part of their journeys as they work on themselves from the ‘Inside Out’.

Tarisai Mchuchu-Ratshidi Director Young in Prison.

Insideout Magazine Issue 12

Emotions and Behavior In this theme inmates used drawings and cartoons to express their understanding of what emotions are by making drawings that show how they moved from their experience of feeling bad emotions into transforming them to goods one’s. They had to think and draw about their personal situations and experience that helped them identify the causes of those bad emotions and how they changed them to good ones. In these drawings they expressed their understanding of the different emotions and how being able to control them has changed their situation.

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Insideout Magazine Issue 12

RELATIONSHIP In this theme inmates were encouraged and stimulated to create drawings using gel pens to show what relationships they had, show if those relationships needs to be revived and how they will go about doing that. In their expression through the drawings they learned to identify what caused the relationship to break and how they are going to work towards fixing those broken relationships.

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Insideout Magazine Issue 12 -----------------------Community and- -Environment With community and environment the theme focused on showing participants about how the life style of gangsterism, violence and drugs inside prison can influence them in adapting to a more advanced criminal mind and can keep them in the cycle of going in and out of prison and hindering them of becoming responsible and positive and productive young people. In these drawings they expressed how they view the life in prison vs the life outside prison and how this perspective can help them make the right choice going forward.

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-------------------------Career and Education In this theme facilitators focused on getting inmates to identify their goals and dreams, created a space to freely express through drawing Trains to success. We use life line techniques to simplify the idea and encourage and gear inmates toward individually thinking creatively on what realistic step they should take to achieve those goals by each inmate drawing their own train to success. At the end inmates were able to think and show through these drawings a clear picture of where they want to be in life and how they are going to get there.

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Insideout Magazine Issue 12 -------------------------Language and Expression During this theme inmates were encouraged to view how they communicate with each other, how their body language influences their behavior and what things to look for that can help each individual communicate better using their body language.

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Insideout Magazine Issue 12 -------------------------Basic Human rights Getting inmates to understand the importance of knowing your rights and the responsibility that comes with those rights was the aim of the session. They had to think about what their own rights as prisoners are, and how they make sure those rights are not violated. They each had to show in their drawing what rights they think are violated and how they can take responsibility for their own rights.

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Writing “This time I am very happy” This time I am very happy, Because the time that I started this class…

There was this something reminding me The time that use to listen I even didn’t know who I am Because I was that person I was raise to be Meaning I was focus, and I was loving and caring for everything that I do… And was meaningful and something comes in my mind..

Say’s it’s never too late to do good…

And when you are happy u can think properly.

I am happy Then I use these colours…blue-green-brown-and-yellow, Because at the end I realise with this motion I can be born again And do good like a lily that comes at summer time.

And they put it in the special place…

And u will saw it with those bright colours. ..and you will be happy…

Enjoy …fun…Happy…good To learn things that I never done before in my life

Charles Toll

Things I never done before!!

In my life that I am starting to adore makes me feel special Something very good for my feelings It’s almost like food Fill’s more up with joy For my soul it is like a toy…

It is real fun …can wait until is done Feeling happier that the sun shine of my life I enjoy everything….. day….by…..day !

Jeffrey Miti

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Insideout Magazine Issue 12 ‘When I begin’ When I begin….

It did feel like I was riding on a pink cloud Struggle in a green garden full of flowers In this stage I will start coping with my anger And not ever use my stress again…

That’s why I painted my lily red, because that was bad attitude There is always hope when your life is in that dark ugly tunnel And you think there is no way out.

That’s why I did paint my lily yellow like the sun in the sky…

When we live and let live we don’t need criticize, judge or condemn others We let others live their own lives and we live ours….

Because it ? and dies and we are there to feed them When we having a hard time of feeling out of control this lily help us to remember Of our important priorities, we need to stay positive and stable.

When we go ahead…

And take a small step each day…

Make sure its steady forward ? and grown motivates further recovery.

It was fun when I was done….but a beautiful lily like this shine in the sun Ta the end god created them.

Jonathanan Gordon “My lily flower” My Lilly blom wat ek gemaak het, al het ek baie gesukkel. Maar ek het my beste probeur en ek het dit reg gekry. Dit was wel ongemaklik met die skilders ver al die painting, ek het n blom geskets waar ek drie verskillende paint gebruik ( geel; rooi; groen en swart )om my blom te laat mooi lyk.

Ek moet myself se dat ek n goie werk gelewer het en ek is gelukkig met my hande werk. En die mense wat my help om help goed in die lewe en om iets te bereik, se’ ek hartliks Dankie vir alles wat julle my leer. En ek sal die klas voltooi en dit verder vat in my lewe en ek wil sog baie werk en nog leer van klom dinge wat ek moes geleer het.

Gerald Baaitjies

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Insideout Magazine Issue 12

Happy It’s fun and it is real It is creative and it is done by me The time doing this …….

I am just happy There is something happening in my mind Something that says…. You can do whatever u wants to do.

There is a feeling that I’m not in prison any more There were many peoples around me but nothing says they were in prison It was just happiness and new beginnings We were sharing views, something that never have happen in my life….

Sharing with someone…

Afterwards there was this believe in me…that everything is possible Change is possible that is why when I use my colours …I use green for nature Because I feel like a new born When I use that blue it was something like green because it felt that I like the new world has come to my life.

And that red I use for the love that was in my life This time I am very…very happy all this means change is possible Happy…..Happy…..Happy…….Happy…..happy…..happy.

Lunga Bema

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Insideout Magazine Issue 12

When I begin it did feel like I was riding on a white cloud Strangle in a wonderful blue sky…

It was like standing on the green grass…

Forgot about the pass So when I am having a hard time or feeling out of control This lily helps me to forget about all When I will go ahead and take a small step each day, I’ll make sure this Lilly grows every day Sometimes I am afraid but it’s all the things that God creates A beautiful Lilly like this will never fade.

Sometimes they comes in different colours and shapes And that’s why they was ?

Lilly’s live and dies, people give with a smile Lilly’s are yellow, Lilly’s are white but at night Lilly’s sine bright Lilly’s are blue, Lilly’s are green But a beautiful Lilly like this I’ve never seen When it was doing I think it was fun After all I was said But when I was done it wasn’t bad But at the end God created them.

Santino Anderson

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Insideout Magazine Issue 12 I learn on this program I learn on this program…

I learn a lot in this program and it means a lot to me The whole thing that I like about this program is…

To share my feeling.

When the coordinator teach us skills he becomes funny And he made us laugh and everything that he say it is real He inspires us a lot.

Hishaam Abrahams

I’d rather…….

There is always a positive way to solve a situation in my prison time, and mind-set I’d rather sing then shout at others Work with a bright smile then work with the one that describe the anger I feel within, emptiness I’m so desperate to feel the worth of home… that I long lost... that to think about my current situation…

I’d rather think about the importance of education.. conflict resolution, communicating with others.. and building up goals, and being responsible… so I’d rather spend my time on finding my identity I don’t know what’s out there… or what’s waiting for me, but whatever it is I’ll find it may it be success or more mistakes…

I don’t know, but what I do know is that I’m a new man.

Lionel

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Insideout Magazine Issue 12 “M y Flower” The colours of my flower represent my power.

The red is the love I have for my family Purple is for the freedom I had and now I stand The pink is for pearls because I love all the pretty girls Yellow is for the happy days of light if your lifestyle are right Green is for the flowers palm, my mother thought me to stay always calm The blue is for days I was sad but there is one colour that represent bad And that is black for the dark past I had.

Now I understand that I was wrong But deep in my heart I found that I am strong

Maurice Hartnick That I felt encourage and happy, Because sometimes when you do something that you love, It makes better opportunities in life.

Flowers are the memories of love and happiness.

We use flowers for Valentine’s Day, funerals, weddings and Birth days and so on.

Msondezi Tshobisa ja die is my lewe jy sien ek het geleer hoe om myself te bewys wat is reg van verkeerd but my hurt was so seer ,maar ek het hard geprobeer jy sien ..ja ek was n’ gangster… ek briek in by jou venster dan rob ek somer vir jou met al jou mense toe beland ek in die trunk by Nelson Mandela en daar het ek geleer om te ziekiezela ek het altyd my vriende gebewys wie is baas van die huis !

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Insideout Magazine Issue 12

“n’ Fout wat ek gemaak het…”

Die dinge wat ek doen dis waaroor ek droom Dit het groot invloed op my lewe.. vloei aanhoudend soos n’ stroom n’ paar foute het ek gemaak maar spuit kom altyd te laat ek het nog n’ kaans gekry… en toe van oor af voel ek vry.

Ek het nuwe goed begin leer sonder om te treur Het my rustig laat verkeer Vir my eerste keer maak ek niemand anders seer Het my gelukkig gemaak En vir niemand anders maak dit saak Dis nogal heel wat baie pret Iets wat ek veraltyd saam met my sal het En n’ ding wat ek sal onthou ,mens leer to so baie gou So hier is its wat ek wil deel…

Jou lewe is nie daar om mee te speel Want op die Einde van die dag is dit jy en jou famielie wat saam moet lag En die keuses wat jy maak hoef niemand anders te raak So dink mooi oor wat wat jy wil he’ Daar is n’ groot toekoms wat voor jou le’…..

Renaldo Jansen

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Insideout Magazine Issue 12 Young in Prison is die barters vir onse partners Wat nog op die verkeerde pad is… nou maak oop julle oe voor dit te laat is vat n’ tool van Young in Prison… voor dit te laat is …my partners van kwaard is n’ slegte raad vir onse partners.. wat nog op die slegte pad is ek Sidwill, Roebbuls en christiaan is die goeie raad vir onse partners wat nog op die verkeerde pad is Nou laat staan julle dinge…

Laat staan voor dit te laat is van Young in Prison deel gou raad uit vir die wat te laat is, op die pad is……..?

Sidwill

“My art with Beautiful colours” In my arts it have been painted with sky blue paint, To me that paint…it means that the sky is the limit It also have been painted with black paint, To me that paint…it means that everywhere, anywhere there is darkness I also used white paint on my art, The white paint on my art…it means that after the darkness there is a brightness The colours that I use in my arts….

They are very important to me….

Because they always give me hope, that everything may come and go It means that no matter how you can roam around your life, there is time…

That you will tell yourself it is enough now..

Let the things go or let the darkness go, and bring the brightness on your life.

Xolile Khewana

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Insideout Magazine Issue 12

My feelings...

It was back in my childhood…

At school…

The time I was a son to my mother I was listening each and everything my mother use to tell me to do I was feeling like it’s not too late for me..

To start or change a new life to please my family.

“To live is to choose” To live is to choose But to choose well, You must know who you are And what you stand for, Where you want to go...

And why you want to get there.

I am balanced……

I am joy…….

I am loved……

I am happiness.

I see that I still skilful to do art because it’s been too long in doing.. such work like this, it reminds me that I can do what’s good for me.

I see correctional service do care what our life making…

Programs that can lead us or turn back in future… so that we can help those who needs help.

I greet those who come from outside the prison… to come and teach us skilful things that can make us be a part of life.. with other people or to be… one of the south African heroes. it seems to me….

I can become the member of Yong in Prison… so that I can learn other children who desire a better life in future. so that they can now what is good or bad, in prison there is no life.

Zwelethu Dondisa

we deserve better choices, better chances in my flower use this colours , Red because red is beautiful…. when I see red , fill in love about what I’m doing Black, I use black because u can see my flower that what it’s like to back Green, it makes the flower looks natural…that’s why I like to use green Yellow, it makes my work brighter…this is a colour that I like, Yellow

Blue, it’s the sky …the sky is blue Thozamani Meyi

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If you would like to contribute to Young in Prison and its initiatives in ‘promoting the right to positive development’, please donate to: Young in Prison Bank: Nedbank Current Account, Account Number: 1021284556 Salt River Branch

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