The Voice (Francistown)
Moses Maruping
1 April 2008
Francistown — As concerns grow over the increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour amongst the youth, one institution that seeks to repair the damage is the Ikago Rehabilitation Centre.
Perched on the outskirts of Molepolole en route to Lesilakgokong lands, the centre's aim is to mould and restore those kids who have gone astray.
The centre looks like a small traditional school having features such as the dining and assembly halls, a library that has been converted into a classroom, soccer and volleyball grounds.
According to the school's principal, Sekgele Rampha, who has been in command since the centre opened its doors in 2002, the aim is to engage all 29 juveniles who are currently undergoing rehabilitation in physical activities so as to promote the spirit of oneness and teamwork.
The centre initially had just two children in its care, with the number rising to 35 three years later.
"We're mandated to accommodate about 100 kids, but we have never reached such a number," Rampha said.
Neatly dressed in pink shirt adorned with a striped tie, Rampha shifts his glasses as he sets out to convey a good impression of the centre.
With stacks of paper piled up on his office table, he takes a long gaze towards his unexpected visitors before explaining that the centre was established under the Children's Act of 1981 to accommodate three categories of children, namely: children in need of care, child offenders and juvenile offenders.
The Act explains that a child is anyone who is between eight and 14 years while a juvenile is someone between ages of 14 and 18. These are the ages that are accommodated at the centre.
Rampha further explains that before these children can be brought under his care, the process involves social workers in the field interacting with parents over the behaviour of their children.
The centre is seen as a last resort after the parents and social workers have exhausted possible alternatives, and feel the child is better off in a structured environment.
This depends largely on the assessment and recommendation by social workers, who have to convince the Courts on how the centre will benefit the unruly child. A court order will then specify the child's length of detention, which is usually between six months and three years.
The aim is to rehabilitate and modify a child's wild behaviour, and turn him into a responsible member of society through a process of counselling and interaction with social workers and specially trained staff.
The children are exposed to vocational subjects such as motor mechanics, welding, bricklaying and carpentry, according to their interests and ability. They then receive certificates from Madirelo Training and Testing Centre upon successful completion of a course.
Rampha went on to say that the children were detained for the first four months, after which they then become eligible for home visits so as to interact with members of society.
"By doing this, we're simply saying to the child that although you're under detention, you're still a part of society. We don't want to cut them out from interacting with their communities.
"This is done so that parents can get a clear understanding of how their children are progressing, and to assist them in identifying possible niches for the child when he's done here."
Describing the set up at the centre, Rampha explained: "We have a total of 12 cubicles which each accommodates eight children. These cubicles have their own outlets.
"We don't have high-rise walls or barbed wire fences as the facility was established to provide a friendly environment. Unfortunately, from time to time, these kids scale the fence and go into the village where they will re-offend after they get drunk or high on other intoxicating substances. It's a huge challenge."
He added: "Out of the 29 kids that are currently undergoing rehabilitation, only three are frequent absconders.
"We have a kid here who had served his one year term and went back home. He re-offended and was brought back here. My theory is that there are kids who are just made up that way. They will keep on committing offences despite our best efforts to restore them."
Discipline can also be a problem. "It is so disturbing that they do fight with weapons. Sometimes we've found sharp instruments in their possession."
He said yet another challenge is that although it had six social workers employed to rehabilitate the children, the number had now dropped to only three.
"This ratio is not favourable at all."
He said the current batch of children had been involved in crimes including murder, defilement, rape, armed robbery, house break-ins and unlawful possession of drugs.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Voice. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
