On 7 March a deserving Waitangirua family moved into their new home, built with the help of prisoners from Rimutaka Prison’s Faith Based Unit (FBU).
The work was done in partnership with the international not-for-profit organisation Habitat for Humanity, which aims to provide simple, decent housing for people who would otherwise be unable to afford it.
The Sila family acknowledged the work of the prisoners and other volunteers when they received the keys to their new home
“I’m overwhelmed, it’s hard for me to say what this means to us. I can’t thank Habitat and all the volunteers enough,” said Mrs Sila.
The prisoners have been helping at the house each week since early October last year.
“Prison Fellowship New Zealand asked if we could help Habitat for Humanity build the house and we jumped at the chance to get involved in such a worthy cause,” says Acting Rimutaka Prison Manager Richard Symonds.
“The FBU has two community work parties of twelve specially selected minimum security prisoners who go into the community five days a week to work. As well as working on the Habitat house they maintain 17 churches in the area.”
Research shows that prisoners who gain meaningful employment upon release are less likely to re-offend.
“These work parties are extremely important in giving these prisoners skills and routines they’ve never had before. Many of these guys have never worked in a steady job and kept ‘normal hours’. With the work parties they get up each morning, have their breakfast and head out to work just like they would in the community,” says Richard.
Habitat for Humanity Project Manager Bruce McLean speaks highly of the FBU work parties and the help they have given to this house.
“If you total the hours these prisoners have done they are our biggest labour support by a long way. They are enthusiastic, polite and interested in what we are doing here and I think it has been beneficial for all involved,” he says.
“Getting regular volunteers along can be difficult. It is great to have a labour force we can rely on. They are ready to go as soon as they arrive, they don’t need much guidance from me. Even the work parties’ corrections officers have pitched in and helped. It has been a great team effort.
“I would have the FBU work gangs back to help me any time. They have been excellent.”
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ISSN 1178-8453