African Prisons Project

African Prisons Project (APP) is a charity working in Africa to improve the welfare of prisoners through education, health and justice. It was founded in 2004 by then 18-year-old Alexander McLean, who is now its director.

Aims

Soon after its informal establishment, APP's goals became clear. Africa is a troubled continent and its problems are magnified in its detention systems. Malnutrition, lack of sanitation, poor (or no) education and injustice. The young charity's mission was to work in partnership with prison authorities to improve the welfare of detainees.

History

In 2004 Alexander McLean was volunteering in a hospital in Kampala, Uganda when he helped treat a group of prisoners from a local prison. Alexander was shocked by how the patients were mistreated: chained to their beds with no opportunity for sanitation and unsupervised despite being terminally ill. Alexander thus visited the prison from where they had come: Luzira Upper Prison was built in 1927 to hold 600. It was now holding more than 2,400 prisoners.

Alexander bought materials and, in conjunction with the prison authorities, supervised the prisoners renovating their own infirmary. When he asked the prisoners if they needed anything else, the resounding response was 'education'.

Upon his return to the UK Alexander collected books and money donated by friends and family and returned to the prison to found a library. Alexander's actions inspired friends, family and other volunteers to help with the cause and APP was born.

APP today

APP is a growing NGO, now with a permanent base in Kampala, local full-time staff members and a small group of permanent volunteers in the UK. The website [http://www.africanprisons.org] is updated regularly with news stories about current projects and volunteers. Visitors to the website can donate online using Justgiving and Paypal.

Registered charity

APP became a registered charity in November 2007. The number is 1121764.

Current projects

Alexander and other volunteers are currently working on founding new projects across Uganda, including building a new law library with donated books and building a new education centre for female prisoners. APP is also working to install sustainable energy sources in Ugandan prisons, and has been assisted by energy student Shoko Okamura and Better Generation [ [http://www.bettergeneration.co.uk/solar-photovoltaic/fundraising-for-african-prisons-project.html Fundraising for African prisons project | Solar photovoltaic ] ] .

Previous projects

Luzira Men’s Maximum Security Prison, Uganda

Refurbishment of infirmaryThis prison is one of Uganda’s most notorious prisons, and located in the capital Kampala. Alexander carried out his first welfare project by installing windows, lighting, plumbing, furniture, mattresses and linen in a 70-bed prison sickbay.

Prison LibraryAlexander collected over 7,000 books from the UK and delivered them to Luzira where he rebuilt the prison library to provide a comfortable learning environment.

Luzira Condemned Section, Uganda

Death row libraryAlexander created a library to provide an education resource. Prisoners on death row have since achieved O levels and A levels.

Victoria Women’s Prison, Uganda

Renovation of the Health Clinic / Maternity WardAlexander installed beds, solar electricity, furniture, plumbing and equipment, significantly improving the medical service available to the female prisoners.

Renovation of the Women’s Death RowAlexander provided windows and other material assistance to improve life on the women’s death row.

Pademba Youth Detention Centre, Sierra Leone

Farming ProjectPademba is a youth detention centre in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. Most of the children here, aged eight to 16, had committed crimes such as ‘causing a palaver’ or ‘loitering’. One 14-year-old was locked up with her baby, who was only a few months old. The inmates’ diet of rice led to constipation and malnutrition. Alexander’s project provided them with farming tools and seeds to enable them to grow their own fruit and vegetables, allowing them to supplement their diet and see that they were capable of working and achieving.

Cell Renovation ProjectAPP improved the infrastructure by refurbishing the bedrooms and bathrooms.

Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, Kenya

Library Education ProjectKamiti Maximum Security Prison is an infamous prison in Nairobi. A team of APP volunteers renovated the Prison Library, comprising 34,000 donated books, bookshelves, computers, desks and chairs. It was opened by the British High Commissioner in the summer of 2006.

APP has continued to monitor the facilities and conditions at Kamiti, and has ensured that these are maintained and accessible to prisoners. As with all APP projects, this endeavour was intended to provide a sustainable facility, working with the local authorities. This is demonstrated by the continuing development of the library: the Kenya Prisons Service has now appointed a full-time librarian and established links with the Kenyan Library Service to receive new books.

SickbayAPP also renovated the four-ward infirmary at Kamiti. The infirmary was overcrowded. Many patients had to sleep on the floor. The great stench of the wards made the infirmary an unpalatable environment for patients and medical staff. APP redecorated the infirmary, providing sheets and blankets, and bunk beds to increase capacity. The windows were paned with glass to keep out the cold and dust.

Condemned Choirs CD

Martyn Ryan was listening to the radio one day when he heard a radio interview Alexander was giving about APP and the work he had been doing. It prompted Martyn to get in touch with Alexander, who had recently been working in the condemned section of Luzira Maximum Security Prison. Alexander mentioned to Martyn that groups of condemned prisoners - male and female - had formed choirs to sing at Sunday services, but had also been singing some anti-death penalty songs. Alexander mentioned that he would like to record the songs. Martyn set to it: along with his son Ben he rounded up a group of volunteers and the team headed to Uganda in December 2007. They spent several days in the prison recording songs by three separate choirs. Upon return to the UK the volunteers mixed and produced an album, "Freedom Cry". It is available to buy online [ [http://www.condemnedchoirs.co.uk/ Condemned Choirs from Luzira Prison, Uganda ] ] . APP used the album to raise awareness of the ongoing constitutional challenge against Uganda's death penalty.

Awards

APP and its founder Alexander have won several high-profile awards.

In 2006 Alexander was named Volunteer of the Year in the Charitytimes UK Charity Awards [ [http://www.charitytimes.com/pages/charity_times_awards/pages/2006_finalists/2006_winners/volunteer_of_the_year.htm UK Charity Awards 2006 Volunteer of the Year ] ] . The award was presented to Alexander by Prince Edward.

In June 2007 Alexander was named Alumnus of the Year by the University of Nottingham and the first Alumni Laureate at an alumni awards ceremony [ [http://reflect.irisclients.co.uk/article/3 Alumni stars are rewarded : The University of Nottingham Alumni magazine ] ] .

In September 2007 Alexander was awarded the Real World Graduate of the Year award [ [http://www.herecomestheboss.com/rwa/mclean.php Alexander Mclean - RealWorld Magazine - Real World Awards ] ] . Two months later, in November 2007, Alexander was not only presented with the Beacon Prize for Young Philanthropist 2007 in recognition of his work, he was also named the Beacon Prize Overall winner [ [http://www.beaconfellowship.org.uk/nominate_2007.asp How to nominate - The Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust ] ] . The honour came with a cheque for £30,000 for APP.

In September 2008 APP is a finalist in the "Best New Charity" category of the Charitytimes UK Charity Awards. [http://www.charitytimes.com/pages/charity_times_awards/index.htm UK Charity Awards 2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.africanprisons.org/ Official site]
*UK charity|1121764
* [http://www.bettergeneration.co.uk/solar-photovoltaic/fundraising-for-african-prisons-project.html]
* [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jm7x0uBnzRc]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2006/12/11/mission_to_africa_alexander_mclean_feature.shtml]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2007/04/03/alexander_mclean_assistant_commissioner_prisons_feature.shtml]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6444911.stm]
* [http://www.independent.co.uk/student/postgraduate/prison-break-the-gap-year-student-who-set-up-a-charity-for-convicts-in-africa-396512.html]
* [http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/public-affairs/press-releases/index.phtml?menu=pressreleases&code=FOR-255/07&create_date=27-nov-2007]
* [http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/2006/07/344369.html]
* [http://www.beaconfellowship.org.uk/press_releases.asp?rel=1120]
* [http://www.beaconfellowship.org.uk/nominate_2007.asp]
* [http://www.herecomestheboss.com/rwa/mclean.php]
* [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article1492149.ece]
* [http://www.condemnedchoirs.co.uk/]