Back to Our Old Stomping Grounds
I’m delighted to be back in Antalaha. This town has so many intense memories for Hanitra and me. We’ve enjoyed re-visiting our different renovation projects and seeing how well maintained they are.
https://www.zazatany.org/blog-1/other-infrastructure-changes
When we arrived last year, the courtyard in the juvenile section was a mucky mess (photo 1). After renovation, it looked like this (photo 2). During the course of this year, Karim of Grandir Dignement engaged the cooperation of ACTION Madagascar, and together they transformed the space into a real basketball court for the boys. This project was televised on national TV whoo whoo.
Last year, we gutted and re-purposed the abandoned mass toilet which had been used as a holding area for the extremely sick and malnourished. It is now a habitable hospice. Gone are the days when inmates were hauled by their arms and legs, almost like livestock, from the cramped toilet stalls to larger chambers at night. The space is now secure enough for them to stay put and those who pass on can die in some semblance of dignity. This space is much more “comfortable” than the general chambers which worried us. Suppose those prisoners with money could bribe their way into this private and ventilated room, leaving the dying to suffer alone?
But no, this “VIP” space is being used as initially intended. There are fifty-six very sick people housed there now, receiving extra medical attention and an additional meal. Karim is particularly impressed by the dedication of the new nurse, who is tirelessly working under less-than-ideal circumstances. Moreover, thanks to the intervention of Doctors Without Borders, many of the prisoners teetering on the brink of death due to malnutrition were relocated to Sambava prison over the past year. Though still facing challenges, the overcrowding there isn't as severe as it is in Antalaha prison.
The stove in the kid’s section has proved to be a big success. “Deputee”, our extroverted guide proudly showed us how well the stove is working. Karim told us that the teens eat a whole lot better now, since their food preparation is independent from the men’s kitchen. This new system eliminates the possibility of men pilfering from the rice sacks reserved for the juvenile ward.
The sad part of this story is that many of the kids who had been released this year have found themselves back in detention. The recidivism rate for minors stands at a troubling 20%. Karim and I held a lengthy discussion about this problem during which time he showed me recent statistics. Antalaha is THE prison for kids from the entire SAVA region, covering an area of almost 1000 square miles. Out of seventy-seven kids, fifty-two are from the isolated countryside. Only eighteen of the current kids receive regular visits from family members. Thirty-eight kids, meaning 50% have ZERO contact with family, even by telephone. Many family members don’t even know that their child is in prison and often assume that they are dead.
Grandir Dignement has a re-entry program in place but lacks the funds to make it a successful venture. While the program provides bus fare for children to return home and coordinates with representatives at major junctions to ensure they are greeted and directed to their next destination, the crucial follow-up prematurely stops there. The kids fall off the radar, their whereabouts unknown. As a result, many find themselves adrift, with no support network. Some resort to stealing again in order to survive, perpetuating a cycle that leads them right back to where they started.
I encountered this same story in Morondava. Grandir Dignement only works in six prisons, and unfortunately, Morondava not one of them. The prison officials were lamenting the return of two young girls that month, who were caught stealing something or other in order to purchase a ticket home.
I requested Karim to submit a proposal to EMM/RCA for the establishment of a re-entry and follow-up program here in Antalaha. We aim to launch this as a pilot program, and if the initial results prove promising, we can consider replicating in other locations. Hanitra and Elson’s son Maoly, who joined us this year has a special heart for this project. I'll be sure to keep you all updated on our progress.
So there we go! There is much more to recount, but that will have to wait until the next blog.
