Stories For A Sustainable Future

SOCIAL INCLUSION
#EUROPEANFOOTPRINTS #WHATDOYOUCAREABOUT
Ginevra, Italy
Prisoners are a section of the population often reviled and literally out of sight. Many of
them come from poor and vulnerable communities, and do not receive letters or visits.
With little or no contact with the outside world, prisoners often feel hopeless, and as
though there is nothing and no-one for them. Most of us need someone to talk to -
someone we can trust, who doesn’t put labels on us, who talks straight, stays in touch
and doesn’t make promises they can’t keep.
Because of the human dignity and health-related issues associated with incarceration
and institutionalisation, I wanted to do something to help create a more just, humane
and effective penal system. In 2013-14, I
started volunteering for the UK-based,
non-profit organisations New Bridge
and Human Writes. I established
supportive and uplifting relationships with
several inmates through the simple, yet
powerful, act of letter writing and visiting.
Most of us need someone to
talk to - someone we can
trust, who doesn’t put labels
on us, who talks straight,
stays in touch and doesn’t
make promises they can’t
keep.
Research shows that maintaining ties is crucial in successful resettlement, and
that the risk of reoffending is lower for those who receive visits. Befriending is
an effective and low-cost way to address isolation, loneliness, and reoffending from the ground up. It helps people to feel
appreciated and boosts their self-esteem. It also provides the chance to look towards engaging positively in prison regimes
and setting goals and aspirations.
I have learned that most offenders are ordinary people who made disastrous choices and that, as Sir Winston Churchill once
said, “there is goodness in every man’s heart, we just need to find the key to unlock it”. I have also learned that our playing
field in society is uneven, and that rehabilitation must be at the top of the agenda. Society needs to address the gap between
the rich and the poor, and needs to remedy the social issues that
contribute to crime.
Having personal contact with people who are incarcerated and
reading about what their lives are like can help break down
stereotypes and stigmas. In the future, I plan on starting a befriending
service in my hometown in Italy.
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