Correspondence with Prisoners – is it of any use?
We, the staff of the Diocesan Charity in České Budějovice, often ponder if this or that activity we do is of any use. If we didn´t think about the things in the way we do think about them – that is critically, with examining the practical outcomes and sometimes even doubting – there would be a risk that our activities might remain flat and shallow.
What is for example your opinion on helping the prisoners or people who were released from prison? In the following text, you will learn the basic facts and rules of the Correspondence with Prisoners project and you can also have a look at a postcard that Robert sent to his former volunteer Sára. Robert was released from prison in autumn 2012.
Even we sometimes have doubts when thinking about this project. We think for example about things like how much this correspondence in reality motivates the prisoners to work on themselves? How much it helps them in respect of keeping contact with the world outside the prison walls? Do the prisoners forget their volunteers who wrote to them regularly immediately after being released? Is the correspondence only a source of fun or it can even help them to change? Is it possible that it could help the prisoners to change their attitudes, value system or even lives as such, and so on?
The coordinator of the Correspondence with Prisoners project, Mrs. Daniela, finds the assurance while reading the letters. She has to go through all the letters before she sends them either from the prisoner to the volunteer or the other way around. That is why she knows the topics the correspondents are dealing with and she can thus observe the reactions of the prisoners.
Today, we have received one more proof that our work has its purpose. This assurance is really precious, since we do not get many of these. Mr. Robert who was released sometime during autumn 2012 sent through our Charity a greeting to his former volunteer Sára. So for some prisoners, the correspondence really has its purpose. The purpose is so significant that they do not forget it even after being released. So now, you can have a look at what Robert sent to Sára:
“For Sára, who used to exchange letters with Robert during the year 2012. I am sending you my sincere greetings. I am in Prague, where I work and live. I have spent Christmas with my sister and her family. The correspondence with you helped me very much. Thank you. Robert”
Contact:
Mgr. Věra Michalicová, Head of the Volunteer Centre of the Diocesan Charity
