Reality: We are living in a world with very little positive role models.

Role models can either make or break us. They influence us by what they say and do, effectively

conveying one of two messages: Either positive or negative. It is time to take a stand and decide what type

of a role model do you want to be to others.

Our Mission:

Forgiven Ministries is a re-integration centre equipping young, non-violent ex offenders on parole with the necessary tools and skills in entrepreneurship and in the performing arts in

order to successfully re-integrate them back into society.

Company Structure:

Forgiven Ministries has been registered as a Non-Profit Company in terms of section 14 of the Companies Act, 2008. Registration took effect 27 March 2012. Our tax exemption has been

approved as we meet the requirements of a Public Benefit Organization set out in Section 30(3) of the Income Tax Act No 58 of 1962. (The Act)

Founder:Louise Honeyman

Board of Directors:Dr. Leon Oosthuizen (Pastor at Vredelust Gemeente)

Hanli Marais (Ordained Pastor at Powerhouse Ministries)Louise Honeyman (Internationally Ordained Pastor)

Society is reluctant to receive ex-offenders back into their community after their release from prison. Employment is hard to come by, and being a male who is considered to be the head and the provider for the family, they often land up fighting for survival. They have to come up with alternative ways to make a living, which often lands them in the cycle of re-offending.

Society as a whole contributes to the offenders’ delinquent behaviour, and their lack of acceptance as a result of negative perceptions influences the ex-offender’s behaviour.

Dr Liza Grobler, a consulting criminologist shared the following quote which summarises the concept of prison by, amongst others, many

researchers: “It is known that imprisonment per se does not rehabilitate people nor does it facilitate the ultimate goal of

reintegration. It contributes to the formation of a prison sub-culture within an environment where social relations are based on survival, violence and hierarchy. Society should not continue to incarcerate

people for periods of time and then expect them to have transformed themselves by some miracle.”

WHAT IS RECIDIVISM AND WHY IS THE RECIDIVISM RATE SO HIGH?

Recidivism is the act of a person repeating an undesirable behaviour after the person has either experienced negative consequences of that behaviour, or has been treated or trained to extinguish that behaviour.

A brief definition of a recidivist is: “a person who continues to commit crimes even after being caught and punished”

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TOWARDS RECIDIVISM:

• Substance abuse One of the main contributing factors to recidivism.

• Gangs/gangsterism

Negative role models

• Employment Highlighted risk factor for perpetual re-offending

In Conclusion:

Corrections is a societal responsibility. Through the initiative of Forgiven Ministries’ reintegration centre, it will enable ex-

offenders to become law abiding citizens and positive role models in their respective communities. It is apparent that the implementation of the reintegration centre would be

crucial in breaking the vicious cycle of crime and recidivism in South Africa. Every member of society should be willing to help ex-offenders to become law abiding

citizens leading constructive lives.

This is a pilot project, but holds a promising future for all of our communities.

CAN AN EX-OFFENDER BE SUCCESSFULLY REINTEGRATED?

Larry Joe is a living testimony of someone who has undergone a remarkable inner transformation with music being at the very core. Larry was born and bred in the Northern Cape, South Africa. His life's journey took him down a tough road of crime that in turn led to his imprisonment after he handed himself over to the authorities in 2008. By December 2010, he served half of his 5 1/2 year sentence with the Parole Board having decided to grant him an early release for good behaviour. He is passionate about working with young people facing challenges in their communities and uses his music and workshops to encourage and inspire them to create positive perceptions of themselves and to develop a strong belief in their futures. Through his Face the Music workshops, which he has developed and now performs with Aron, he has reached more than 50,000 High School learners across South Africa.

Steps we had in place:

• Assessment Program, we had assessed over 100 inmates incarcerated at Goodwood Correctional Centre

• Funding from the National Lottery Distribution Fund• Household furniture

• Food• Clothing

• Networks willing to train and develop within the fields of Entrepreneurship and Performing Arts

• Role Models/Spiritual Leaders/Spiritual Fathers• Individual and Group Therapy

PROBLEMS WE ENCOUNTERED:

•Due to a slight misunderstanding regarding the service agreement with DCS, Forgiven’s service was terminated at Goodwood Correctional Centre. There was an error of judgement on my behalf, but I see this as a temporary setback and something that can be overcome.

• Forgiven was approved to rent council-owned property, however due to Public Participation, Forgiven’s application was subsequently withdrawn by the Department of Social Development.

• Due to this withdrawal, Forgiven was unable to accept the funding that was approved by the National Lottery Distribution Fund

“As you can see from the timeline below, we have been kept on a string for 17 months by the Department of Social Development. I have attached my response to the Department after the final letter was received on the 23 October 2013. To give you some background, we are registered as a Non-Profit Company that has been trying to establish a reintegration centre (“halfway house”) for ex-offenders on parole, equipping them with the necessary tools and skills in entrepreneurship and in the performing arts in order to reintegrate them back into society. In order to achieve our mission, we have been involved in the process of renting council-owned property as part of the second-phase accommodation. Herewith our story: 6 May 2012 – application to rent council owned property was submitted to the Department of Social Development (Grant Stevens)4 December 2012 – meeting was arranged for viewing of property and to write up a defect list (Jantjie Booysen)10 December 2012 – email was sent to Cornelia Finch to confirm that we were the successful applicants and that an agreement was going to be signed in January 2013 7 January 2013 – signed letter by Cornelia Finch and Ernest Sass that an agreement was currently been drawn up for the property 13 March 2013 – launch of the halfway house, Jantjie Booysen representative of Social Development attended the event 3 July 2013 – meeting with Ward Councillor Brendan Van Der Merwe we cannot proceed with the property due to public participation 7 October 2013 – urgent meeting held with Councillor Suzette Little and her peers, she asked them to follow up with the possible identification of alternative property and to send a progress report on the 21 October 2013, she had also indicated a possible clinic in Belhar 21 October 2013 – no progress report was received 23 October 2013 – Cornelia Finch sends a letter saying that process could not continue due to public participation, no mention of any other possible properties was made Surely the local government will do everything that they can when it comes to the private sector taking the initiative to fight crime in the province? “