How I use education to reform and rehabilitate prisoners | David Onyera | TEDxKamitiPrison

[Music]

[Music] are prisoners people – can you spot them

are prisoners people – can you spot them

are prisoners people – can you spot them from the crowd especially when they’re

from the crowd especially when they’re

from the crowd especially when they’re not in uniform and who are you to say

not in uniform and who are you to say

not in uniform and who are you to say this is a prisoner these are some of the

this is a prisoner these are some of the

this is a prisoner these are some of the questions that linger in our minds

before I became part and parcel of this

before I became part and parcel of this set that you’re here today I was a

set that you’re here today I was a

set that you’re here today I was a teacher outside there but I had

teacher outside there but I had

teacher outside there but I had questions that I could not answer I

questions that I could not answer I

questions that I could not answer I declared interest in joining the prisons

declared interest in joining the prisons

declared interest in joining the prisons as a teacher but I came in to find out

as a teacher but I came in to find out

as a teacher but I came in to find out what exactly happens and for that reason

what exactly happens and for that reason

what exactly happens and for that reason commit prison made me chill because the

commit prison made me chill because the

commit prison made me chill because the stories that have been hearing from

stories that have been hearing from

stories that have been hearing from prison especially from committee were

prison especially from committee were

prison especially from committee were those of death and despair when I was

those of death and despair when I was

those of death and despair when I was walking around and I was telling people

walking around and I was telling people

walking around and I was telling people I was going to be a teacher in prison

I was going to be a teacher in prison

I was going to be a teacher in prison wondering kind of prisoners also stay

wondering kind of prisoners also stay

wondering kind of prisoners also stay just stay in class like other people say

just stay in class like other people say

just stay in class like other people say there and the young ones especially the

there and the young ones especially the

there and the young ones especially the primary school could ask me can

primary school could ask me can

primary school could ask me can prisoners also eat just like other

prisoners also eat just like other

prisoners also eat just like other people say there but when I came here

people say there but when I came here

people say there but when I came here and I was given that opportunity to get

and I was given that opportunity to get

and I was given that opportunity to get to that class

to that class

to that class I got a different picture I got people

I got a different picture I got people

I got a different picture I got people who had that hunger for education I got

who had that hunger for education I got

who had that hunger for education I got inmates who are ready to go through the

inmates who are ready to go through the

inmates who are ready to go through the educational system regardless of their

educational system regardless of their

educational system regardless of their age my first encounter in class was a

age my first encounter in class was a

age my first encounter in class was a prisoner who was over 50 years and he

prisoner who was over 50 years and he

prisoner who was over 50 years and he told me teacher now that you are really

told me teacher now that you are really

told me teacher now that you are really working hard to make me understand this

working hard to make me understand this

working hard to make me understand this kiswahili we really be able to really

kiswahili we really be able to really

kiswahili we really be able to really get what you’re saying

get what you’re saying

get what you’re saying I’m so old but I told him no you have

I’m so old but I told him no you have

I’m so old but I told him no you have another chance and I’m here to give you

another chance and I’m here to give you

another chance and I’m here to give you that chance

after a while the interaction in class

after a while the interaction in class you give them an exercise you talk to

you give them an exercise you talk to

you give them an exercise you talk to them first of all you have to take time

them first of all you have to take time

them first of all you have to take time tell them we should accept the situation

tell them we should accept the situation

tell them we should accept the situation we are in and work out how we can come

we are in and work out how we can come

we are in and work out how we can come out with hope in it and there you start

out with hope in it and there you start

out with hope in it and there you start impart knowledge to them I tell you when

impart knowledge to them I tell you when

impart knowledge to them I tell you when he did his final exam like that the kcp

he did his final exam like that the kcp

he did his final exam like that the kcp this inmate got a very wonderful mock

this inmate got a very wonderful mock

this inmate got a very wonderful mock that made me a proud teacher in prison

that made me a proud teacher in prison

that made me a proud teacher in prison the system continues when you operate

the system continues when you operate

the system continues when you operate the school in the morning I was inspired

the school in the morning I was inspired

the school in the morning I was inspired by one image mr. couture Albert actually

by one image mr. couture Albert actually

by one image mr. couture Albert actually as we are speaking today in a prison

as we are speaking today in a prison

as we are speaking today in a prison academy he is the principal of the

academy he is the principal of the

academy he is the principal of the school

school

school my coming in and giving him that

my coming in and giving him that

my coming in and giving him that baseline interacting with him and

baseline interacting with him and

baseline interacting with him and accepting to get in the system that he

accepting to get in the system that he

accepting to get in the system that he had for Ionia gave him the push to even

had for Ionia gave him the push to even

had for Ionia gave him the push to even accept me and work together to impart

accept me and work together to impart

accept me and work together to impart knowledge to other inmates mr. couture

knowledge to other inmates mr. couture

knowledge to other inmates mr. couture as we speak today this is as an image

as we speak today this is as an image

as we speak today this is as an image who’s who is undergoing a death sentence

who’s who is undergoing a death sentence

who’s who is undergoing a death sentence for that matter but for now it was

for that matter but for now it was

for that matter but for now it was commissioned to a life sentence but when

commissioned to a life sentence but when

commissioned to a life sentence but when you look at him the power has in

you look at him the power has in

you look at him the power has in handling school issues and matters you

handling school issues and matters you

handling school issues and matters you can confuse with that to principal

can confuse with that to principal

can confuse with that to principal outside there is that school that’s

outside there is that school that’s

outside there is that school that’s taken care of by the school as a teacher

taken care of by the school as a teacher

taken care of by the school as a teacher and for that matter an officer sometimes

and for that matter an officer sometimes

and for that matter an officer sometimes very difficult to get into class in

very difficult to get into class in

very difficult to get into class in uniform but because of the desire I had

uniform but because of the desire I had

uniform but because of the desire I had they push the passion I had to transform

they push the passion I had to transform

they push the passion I had to transform these brothers of us when I get in I

these brothers of us when I get in I

these brothers of us when I get in I need to come down to up

create that relationship that closeness

create that relationship that closeness just like it is created outside air and

just like it is created outside air and

just like it is created outside air and actually we are achieving a lot we’ve

actually we are achieving a lot we’ve

actually we are achieving a lot we’ve had inmates who came here without way

had inmates who came here without way

had inmates who came here without way knowing how to read and write imagine by

knowing how to read and write imagine by

knowing how to read and write imagine by the end of the day after going through

the end of the day after going through

the end of the day after going through our system when you look at the eyes and

our system when you look at the eyes and

our system when you look at the eyes and is able to write a story is able to

is able to write a story is able to

is able to write a story is able to write a letter that is the joy of being

write a letter that is the joy of being

write a letter that is the joy of being a teacher in prison sometimes you look

a teacher in prison sometimes you look

a teacher in prison sometimes you look at the character here with somebody who

at the character here with somebody who

at the character here with somebody who came in because of the circumstances of

came in because of the circumstances of

came in because of the circumstances of the socialized research this person

the socialized research this person

the socialized research this person actually through that age did not have

actually through that age did not have

actually through that age did not have that opportunity to get into class and

that opportunity to get into class and

that opportunity to get into class and you are there introducing him to this

you are there introducing him to this

you are there introducing him to this setup of Education you have to deal with

setup of Education you have to deal with

setup of Education you have to deal with their stress that away because of their

their stress that away because of their

their stress that away because of their sentence some are not even sure of what

sentence some are not even sure of what

sentence some are not even sure of what comes next because their sentence is

comes next because their sentence is

comes next because their sentence is reading life sentence they asked to

reading life sentence they asked to

reading life sentence they asked to teach our how long is life sentence and

teach our how long is life sentence and

teach our how long is life sentence and you are introducing a concept in

you are introducing a concept in

you are introducing a concept in mathematics as introduction so you want

mathematics as introduction so you want

mathematics as introduction so you want you have to go outside away first of all

you have to go outside away first of all

you have to go outside away first of all to understand what we seen which is

to understand what we seen which is

to understand what we seen which is going through and that’s my duty as a

going through and that’s my duty as a

going through and that’s my duty as a teacher in prison I had an impact an

teacher in prison I had an impact an

teacher in prison I had an impact an inmate who told me teacher I’ve tried

inmate who told me teacher I’ve tried

inmate who told me teacher I’ve tried all that like I can I’ve listened to you

all that like I can I’ve listened to you

all that like I can I’ve listened to you but it’s like I’ll not get anything in

but it’s like I’ll not get anything in

but it’s like I’ll not get anything in this class so I want to go to another

this class so I want to go to another

this class so I want to go to another place sexual so that I do something else

place sexual so that I do something else

place sexual so that I do something else using my hands do you leave that inmate

using my hands do you leave that inmate

using my hands do you leave that inmate or away no I told him no look here for

or away no I told him no look here for

or away no I told him no look here for you to go to that number please section

you to go to that number please section

you to go to that number please section you must be knowing something about

you must be knowing something about

you must be knowing something about writing already

writing already

writing already you must be recording something now so

you must be recording something now so

you must be recording something now so for you to go there first of all let us

for you to go there first of all let us

for you to go there first of all let us bring you to that level so that at least

bring you to that level so that at least

bring you to that level so that at least when we give you that opportunity to

when we give you that opportunity to

when we give you that opportunity to proceed and ladies and gentlemen it

proceed and ladies and gentlemen it

proceed and ladies and gentlemen it worked this inmate would not go away

worked this inmate would not go away

worked this inmate would not go away from school and that’s my joy

my inspiration comes out when I reflect

my inspiration comes out when I reflect or the good sediments of one Lydia

or the good sediments of one Lydia

or the good sediments of one Lydia tynacorp Nelson Mandela upon Afghanistan

tynacorp Nelson Mandela upon Afghanistan

tynacorp Nelson Mandela upon Afghanistan its aid education is a waypoint

its aid education is a waypoint

its aid education is a waypoint which we can use to change the world so

which we can use to change the world so

which we can use to change the world so this push of changing the world begins

this push of changing the world begins

this push of changing the world begins here in prison when we embrace this

here in prison when we embrace this

here in prison when we embrace this education with these inmates sometimes

education with these inmates sometimes

education with these inmates sometimes as a teacher you would expect that I

as a teacher you would expect that I

as a teacher you would expect that I know outside there when you do very well

know outside there when you do very well

know outside there when you do very well you are motivated how do they motivate

you are motivated how do they motivate

you are motivated how do they motivate you the number of s you produce they

you the number of s you produce they

you the number of s you produce they equated to some monetary value

equated to some monetary value

equated to some monetary value sometimes you are given some very nice

sometimes you are given some very nice

sometimes you are given some very nice office maybe a deputy teacher maybe a

office maybe a deputy teacher maybe a

office maybe a deputy teacher maybe a direct answer but in prison what do we

direct answer but in prison what do we

direct answer but in prison what do we do they litter we offer their support

do they litter we offer their support

do they litter we offer their support that the government gives to us is the

that the government gives to us is the

that the government gives to us is the driving push that makes up give our all

driving push that makes up give our all

driving push that makes up give our all as a teacher you don’t need to look at

as a teacher you don’t need to look at

as a teacher you don’t need to look at what you get after this but my you is

what you get after this but my you is

what you get after this but my you is when I hear my student is doing vet

when I hear my student is doing vet

when I hear my student is doing vet medicine at the inverse of Nairobi that

medicine at the inverse of Nairobi that

medicine at the inverse of Nairobi that makes me happy it makes me want more of

makes me happy it makes me want more of

makes me happy it makes me want more of these inmates to join in educational

these inmates to join in educational

these inmates to join in educational system so that they can improve their

system so that they can improve their

system so that they can improve their life we’re talking about life second

life we’re talking about life second

life we’re talking about life second chances in life how do they come they

chances in life how do they come they

chances in life how do they come they only come when you go through something

only come when you go through something

only come when you go through something that you ought to have gone through but

that you ought to have gone through but

that you ought to have gone through but because of the circumstance they’re not

because of the circumstance they’re not

because of the circumstance they’re not allowed by that time you are accorded

allowed by that time you are accorded

allowed by that time you are accorded that opportunity and that’s why I’m very

that opportunity and that’s why I’m very

that opportunity and that’s why I’m very proud to work with those people who have

proud to work with those people who have

proud to work with those people who have accepted that in life there’s a second

accepted that in life there’s a second

accepted that in life there’s a second chance

chance

chance and this is second chance is to go

and this is second chance is to go

and this is second chance is to go through a system that has put for them

through a system that has put for them

through a system that has put for them and actually transformed their lives

and actually transformed their lives

and actually transformed their lives they miss a year is

they miss a year is

they miss a year is what do you take education imprisonments

what do you take education imprisonments

what do you take education imprisonments when you’re out is the punishment but as

when you’re out is the punishment but as

when you’re out is the punishment but as a teacher it’s my duty to create a new

a teacher it’s my duty to create a new

a teacher it’s my duty to create a new imprisonment version that says

imprisonment version that says

imprisonment version that says imprisonment is not for punishments it’s

imprisonment is not for punishments it’s

imprisonment is not for punishments it’s maybe a punishment but she not walk

maybe a punishment but she not walk

maybe a punishment but she not walk before punishment

before punishment

before punishment it should be a place that will transform

it should be a place that will transform

it should be a place that will transform you transform your character and that’s

you transform your character and that’s

you transform your character and that’s why my students if you look at them

why my students if you look at them

why my students if you look at them they’re actually transformed when they

they’re actually transformed when they

they’re actually transformed when they see CJ was talking about looking at

see CJ was talking about looking at

see CJ was talking about looking at their parameters on how to release some

their parameters on how to release some

their parameters on how to release some of them of course if somebody gives an a

of them of course if somebody gives an a

of them of course if somebody gives an a world has no need from this person it is

world has no need from this person it is

world has no need from this person it is the joy of that teacher to tell you that

the joy of that teacher to tell you that

the joy of that teacher to tell you that these are transformed character a

these are transformed character a

these are transformed character a character that has been given a second

character that has been given a second

character that has been given a second chance in life as a teacher guiding in

chance in life as a teacher guiding in

chance in life as a teacher guiding in counseling is paramount meat because

counseling is paramount meat because

counseling is paramount meat because majority of these people I work with a

majority of these people I work with a

majority of these people I work with a client’s the prisoners sometimes they

client’s the prisoners sometimes they

client’s the prisoners sometimes they are thinking about their families

are thinking about their families

are thinking about their families they’re thinking about what they left

they’re thinking about what they left

they’re thinking about what they left behind so you can’t just come in and say

behind so you can’t just come in and say

behind so you can’t just come in and say today who wants to talk about new arts

today who wants to talk about new arts

today who wants to talk about new arts and the back of his mind he wants to

and the back of his mind he wants to

and the back of his mind he wants to hear what will you tell him that will

hear what will you tell him that will

hear what will you tell him that will facilitate his release from prison but

facilitate his release from prison but

facilitate his release from prison but because of the skills the skills that

because of the skills the skills that

because of the skills the skills that have been bestowed upon me especially

have been bestowed upon me especially

have been bestowed upon me especially going through the training the prisons

going through the training the prisons

going through the training the prisons training the prisoners our training and

training the prisoners our training and

training the prisoners our training and our training as a teachers idea when I

our training as a teachers idea when I

our training as a teachers idea when I bring them together and create that

bring them together and create that

bring them together and create that balance ladies and gentlemen the results

balance ladies and gentlemen the results

balance ladies and gentlemen the results are posting that wonderful

so as I think about mr. couture the

so as I think about mr. couture the prints for here today as I think about

prints for here today as I think about

prints for here today as I think about that prisoner who was finding out for me

that prisoner who was finding out for me

that prisoner who was finding out for me will I really get something from what

will I really get something from what

will I really get something from what you say will I really achieved anything

you say will I really achieved anything

you say will I really achieved anything from because of my age when I look at

from because of my age when I look at

from because of my age when I look at them and see them perform very well and

them and see them perform very well and

them and see them perform very well and even join others taking even diploma in

even join others taking even diploma in

even join others taking even diploma in loading certificates or whatever

loading certificates or whatever

loading certificates or whatever processing in the prison that is the joy

processing in the prison that is the joy

processing in the prison that is the joy of a teacher quality David yeah so

of a teacher quality David yeah so

of a teacher quality David yeah so ladies and gentlemen it’s a challenges I

ladies and gentlemen it’s a challenges I

ladies and gentlemen it’s a challenges I have to face on and I bring in those we

have to face on and I bring in those we

have to face on and I bring in those we are working without as teachers who have

are working without as teachers who have

are working without as teachers who have been brought to the system letters and

been brought to the system letters and

been brought to the system letters and calculate inculcate these reforms and

calculate inculcate these reforms and

calculate inculcate these reforms and rehabilitation of character of these

rehabilitation of character of these

rehabilitation of character of these brothers of ours and sisters who are

brothers of ours and sisters who are

brothers of ours and sisters who are willing to embrace their second chance

willing to embrace their second chance

willing to embrace their second chance in life and transform the world just as

in life and transform the world just as

in life and transform the world just as Nelson Mandela put it using education

Nelson Mandela put it using education

Nelson Mandela put it using education thank you