by
Stefania Tallei

Practical Support

The members of the Community visit the imprisoned in many prisons of the world. Our interventions are primarily characterised by listening and friendship with the prisoners. Responding to their requests means activating interventions of real solidarity.

Social Secretariat. Completion of bureaucratic practices, seeking for work and finding housing at the time of prison release.
We do not work alone, but in networks with all professional figures: educators, social workers in the district health or social departments, staff of outside structures of welcome (night-shelters, counselling centres, soup-kitchens, etc.)

First aid assistance: Distribution of food and clothing. Within penitentiaries not only in Africa but also in Europe, interventions of this type are necessary. For example, in Rome there is a monthly distribution of 200-400 clothing bundles (underwear, towels, bathrobes, running suits, sweatshirts, trousers, sweaters, shoes, jackets).

Legal help: Contacts with lawyers, auditing courts, social workers, competent authorities with the aim of finding solutions so that all may enjoy the rights guaranteed by law.

Information, guidance on the content of norms, of penitentiary rules and their application.
In Rome, at the time of prison release, a guidebook, "Where to eat, sleep, wash" is published and distributed by the Community so the person may find the way in the city. For those persons who are not in the Registry, the Rome Community provides a legal address (only with a registry aim). These allow the newly released to obtain identity cards, to use the national health care facilities, to enter a rehabilitation community, to receive mail.

Mozambique
The Community prepares food in the Pemba jail.

Cultural mediation. Explanation of the content and norms of the complex prison world which are indispensable for foreigners.
The distribution of books and dictionaries, in the absence of a language course, offer a decisive help to allow a foreigner to understand and to communicate.
Monitoring the respect human rights. The living conditions assessed and the individual difficulties explained by the prisoner in the course of visits or interviews are reported to the appropriate institutional headquarters or volunteer organisations, to claim for justice.

Psychological and human support. Regular visits and conversations, cultural and social animation and recreational activities. Relationships with families in Italy and abroad are also established, to lessen isolation and depression. Visits to prisoners transferred to other penitentiaries and/or correspondence ensure the continuation of friendships.

Catechesis. For those who wish, we organise meetings on the Gospel, thought especially for those who are in prison.

Celebration. When allowed by the prison administration, at times such as Christmas we organise celebrations.