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Beauty for Ashes

Location	Observatory, Cape Town
Field	Rehabilitation and support for female prisoners
Director	Stephanie van Wyk
Website	No website available

Beneficiaries
Beauty for Ashes works with female prisoners providing support in prison and in 2001 began supporting women released from prison under parole conditions. In July 2003 Beauty for Ashes opened their own half way house in Observatory, Cape Town. There is however, a great openness to extending this work to include men, once the service in support of the women has been established and reached a level of maturity.

Crime is destroying the fabric of South African society
In South Africa statistics and trends indicate that 80% of ex-offenders will be back behind bars within three years of their release. The estimated recidivance rate in the Western Cape is 88%. Currently, more than half of all sentenced prisoners have previously been inmates. With unemployment in South Africa reaching 40%, and with prisons operating over capacity, the prospect for rehabilitation in South Africa looks bleak.

A large segment of the prison population consists of the poor, the illiterate and the unskilled. Many leave prison and return to their families where they bring extra burden on already impoverished living conditions. Poor job skills and inadequate education cause many to re offend. Our experience is that many families do not want ex-prisoners to return to their communities because of the above reason and because socially they are ashamed and want to be rid of the “trouble maker”. Most reintegration services in South Africa do not provide a comprehensive service which starts in prison and continues after release. Beauty for Ashes aims to address this need.

Beauty for Ashes has a solution
The current public and political opinion on crime in South Africa is strongly turned against creative and constructive approaches towards offenders. There is a struggle to convince the public and decision-makers of the merits of such services. The organisation Beauty for Ashes aims to change this attitude through active advocacy work amongst the public, prison authorities and government.

Beauty for Ashes liaises with the Prison Social Workers and the prisoner to establish where we can assist upon the release of a prisoner. Pollsmoor Prison is overcrowded and many women could be released sooner if they could find a safe place to stay. Many cannot return to their communities immediately for many reasons. Five years ago Beauty for Ashes began to sponsor women leaving prison on parole. Beauty for Ashes has opened its own home for women in Observatory Cape Town. They run a weekly Restoration programme taking place from Monday to Friday. They have weekly individual sessions with each woman to assess progress and assist with problems.

Many prisoners find out they are HIV positive when they enter prison. Beauty for Ashes has government accredited HIV counsellors who are able to counsel prisoners/ex prisoners who find themselves in this position.

Many women have so far been released on parole into their care, such as Elizabeth, who has spent twenty years in prison. Although there have been some setbacks, women have now found permanent jobs and others have casual work. Beauty for Ashes assists the women to reunite with their families with the purpose of reintegrating them into their respective communities.

Beauty for Ashes has a three phased implementation strategy as their solution
- Phase 1 (August 1997 – January 2001)
In August 1997, a team of dedicated women who form the organisation “Beauty for Ashes” began working behind bars at Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town. They have succeeded in establishing good relationships with both the prison authorities and the women offenders. During this time, the team has supported women offenders and prepared them for their release.

In 2001, a decision was taken by the leaders of Beauty for Ashes to register as a non-profit organisation and to expand the support to assist with re-integration and rehabilitation after release. Together with Correctional Services Department and several supporting organisations, Beauty for Ashes seeks to give women a “window of opportunity” before they return to their communities.

- Phase 2 (February 2001 – July 2003)
Although the work behind bars continued, Beauty for Ashes began to pursue the greater need for after prison care for women released on parole. This second phase began with women who were in such situation being released into the care of Beauty for Ashes. Women were housed at Loaves and Fishes, a renewal centre for the homeless in Observatory. In July 2003, Beauty for Ashes opened their own house in Bishop Road Observatory. A comprehensive drive for funding was also begun.

Some of the projects funding would ensure:

Counselling and mentoring processes which facilitate the restoration of dignity and purpose in the lives of women prisoners and ex-prisoners are sustained.
Women ex-prisoners are equipped with the necessary life-skills and job skills to reintegrate into society and live productive lives.
Extension of the Literacy Skills Basic Education & Training program for those who are illiterate or have had their education interrupted, plus training and job creation skills.
Advocacy for adequate legal support for prisoners is sustained.
Advocacy for improved living conditions for prisoners, especially those living with HIV/AIDS plus medical support once they leave prison.
Our vision of being a model for the development of halfway houses in the Western Cape to be realized so that support for the reintegration of ex-offenders is more successful.

- Phase 3 (from July 2003 onwards)
Vision

Work begun in phase 2 would be continued and expanded.
Development of an effective job creation skills program where women can begin to earn and become independent.
Medical Care for those leaving prison, especially those who are HIV positive.
Involvement of Doctors, Dentists and Pharmacists in volunteer care.
Establishing projects that would provide funding and subsistence for the centre.
Establishing an Education Centre.
Employment of professional staff which we can pay a salary. Attracting more volunteers.
Training volunteers and staff.
Establishing an office and employ an administrator.
Working with other NGO’s who could assist with rehabilitation i.e. those who deal with drug/alcohol addictions.
Establishing a new half-way house i.e. Muizenberg

Profile of a Prisoner

Two thirds of prisoners in South Africa come from broken homes
5% of men in prison had no loving Father figure as a role model
Two-thirds abuse themselves with drugs and alcohol
80% of women prisoners have been physically or sexually abused
50% of men have been physically or sexually abused
45% of men were out of work when they were arrested
One half never went beyond the sixth grade education
60 – 80% cannot read or write well enough to get along in society
More than 70% have tattoos that say ‘born to loose’ to something similar
Prisons lack effective rehabilitation methods
Only 13% of prisoners behind bars participate in education or skills programmes.