Learning life skills in prison

By LORRAINE JIMAL
LIFE skills training is helping many inmates to learn in prison what they never did before, equipping them with skills in life.
Livos Kubu, from Chimbu, said she learnt things such as baking, sewing, cooking, handicraft, screen painting and knitting in the nine years she spent at Bomana.
“I did not know much about this life skills when I came in 2012 but through different programmes that we engage in here, I got 12 certificates in theses different programmes,” she said.
“I’m happy that I have a story to share my with family,” she said.
Kubu said the programmes kept her busy and seemed to have shortened her time in prison.
She said whenever she was bored or sad, she would keep busy by sewing or knitting.
She is the leader of the sewing team in the female wing.
Kubu said she had reflected on life in prison and was angry, sad and regretful.
When she started engaging in these skill building activities, she felt relieved from all the worries and pain that she first felt bothering her.
These days she was more happier because she realised the importance and saw the creativity of the skills she had learnt which she could not have done so outside.
Kubu expressed her appreciation to the kind hearted people who committed their time to visit them and have imparted these important life skills to her through the various programmes in liaising with the Correctional Services.
“It is impressive when I see that I can do these things because I have never gone to any school,” she said.
Kubu bakes bread and scones which they supply to the male wing. Some of the officers order from them.