Under the banner and guidance of Sonke Gender Justice, the FNB Fund has supported the Prisons project in the Western Cape for over two years. Correctional officers are trained as peer educators to act as leaders within the prison community, providing support, education and an example of healthy living to their counterparts.

Sonke is helping to make a difference in the lives of these prisoners. “The programme has not only helped prisoners understand the importance of maintaining good health but also provided education, training and development and address the challenges that prisoners face on a daily basis,” says Howard Arrand, chairperson, FNB Fund.

The peer educators offer support in educating their peers and provide support to other inmates that are struggling with health challenges. This interaction facilitates problem solving and can help ensure that inmates access vital medicine, nutrition and testing services.

Inmates have responded positively to the One Man Can programme inside the prison. One inmate noted after the training that, “attending this workshop is probably one of the most positive and informative decisions that I’ve made while in prison. Being introduced to Sonke Gender Justice has been a turning point in my life. I never knew about this organisation, but I must say that I really appreciate the work that they do. In this day and age we’ll need more organisations to be established in order to educate our nation about the danger of HIV/Aids, gender equality and human rights”.

An educator who has since been released from prison and is now working for Sonke, says that he grappled with transforming his own life to embody the values of the One Man Can project. “I admit that I was hypocritical for me to tell others to change when I wasn’t fully committing myself. That’s the way the programme works though. You can’t expect someone to change after a few conversations. Becoming a peer educator marks the start of a process. You need support, and Sonke provided that support.”

Emily Keehn, Sonke Gender Justice manager, says, “Peer education training is so appealing to inmates because its seen as a source of information, which is great. The program has been well received because Sonke’s facilitators approach each and every peer educator with respect. The facilitators constantly strive to be an encouraging presence within correctional communities and as a result, the demand for trainings has consistently risen over the years.”

“Such good service and dedication often goes unnoticed. Beneficiaries like Sonke Gender Justice are truly making a difference in the lives of men. The programme has made a significant contribution to the lives of these men and their outlook on life,” concludes Arrand.

Peer educators are trained over a four-day period by experienced Sonke facilitators’. Health areas that are covered in the course include education on HIV/Aids, TB, contraception, sexually transmitted infections and an understanding of gender.