00:00Sental, not her real name, is a mother of two.
00:03Just days ago, she was serving a one-year prison sentence.
00:07But on this International Women's Day, her ordeal behind bars will become history.
00:11She is among four inmates granted freedom from Sierra Leone's correctional services.
00:16I was arrested for loitering.
00:19They said they didn't want me around the makeshift structure
00:21because criminals and drug users usually sit around those places.
00:25Since I had no one to help me, they took me to the cell.
00:28My husband also tried to help arrange my release,
00:31but he was unable to find anyone to assist him.
00:35The inmates were freed from the intervention of the Football for Reform Initiative,
00:40a gender empowerment program that seeks to use football as a tool for social change and rehabilitation.
00:46So over the past five years, I've had a relationship with the Freetown Women's Correctional Center.
00:51And in those five years, we've been able to secure the release of over 100 or about 100 female inmates.
01:00And they've also been able to engage in skills.
01:06Whilst in the center, we provided that for them and hopefully for them to gain full employment.
01:13Johan Sin further explains that most of the women are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
01:17For the inmates' release today, the road ahead would not be met without challenges.
01:20For those who support this initiative, they say it's all about compassion, rehabilitation,
01:26and of course the possibility of reintegrating back into society.
01:30Authorities at the Correctional Services say there are over 200 women currently in the female services,
01:35serving various fines and sentences.
01:38They are here for us to rehabilitate them.
01:39But most of the time, the items for us to rehabilitate them is not there.
01:43Items like beads, sewing machines, plumbing machines, carpentry machines.
01:50Because if you have skills in carpentry, you can go back and start your own workshop in town.
01:55The Football for Reform Initiative seeks to advocate for increased legal representation
01:59for more women in correctional services.
02:02Eric Kawar, African News, Freetown.
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