Africa-Press – Namibia.
Inmates from the Oluno Correctional Facility have stepped out of prison walls and into school classrooms across the Oshikoto region.
They brought a powerful message to young people on how drug and alcohol abuse can destroy one’s future.
The week-long campaign was hosted last week and kicked off at the Ontananga Senior Secondary School (SSS).
It includes Uukule SSS, Nehale SSS and Hans Daniel Namuhuya SSS. The campaign, themed ‘Substance Use Leads to Absent Youth’, is not your typical school talk.
It was raw, led by people who have lived the consequences of substance abuse.
The initiative was spearheaded by chief correctional officer Veikko Jeremia.
He said the goal is not to instil fear but to teach through experience.
“This campaign gave inmates a chance to speak directly to the youth in an honest and unfiltered way. It was not about shame or punishment but learning and prevention. Their stories carry a powerful warning. The youth will listen because the truth came from lived experiences,” Jeremia said.
Philip Sikongo, one of the inmates who participated in the programme, shared how his life spiralled out of control after using marijuana at university.
“I started doing marijuana when I was at varsity, studying accounting. Constant use led to me dropping out of varsity to pursue a business career, which I did not even dream of. I ended up in the United Kingdom, where I was deported through the embassy because of that substance,” he narrated.
“Back home, I was diagnosed with bipolar, but I refused to believe it. I did not take the medication because I did not believe I was ill. As a result, I ended up vandalising a shopping mall in Rundu. That is how I ended up here.
“Now, I am on anti-psychotic medication, and I am doing great. I have not suffered any setbacks since I started my treatment. I am grateful that I got assistance from the correctional administration. I am telling you this because I do not want any of you to suffer the same fate I did,” he said.
While the inmates shared their real-life experiences, correctional officers used the chance to guide learners toward better choices.
They spoke about career opportunities in the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) – from custodial work to rehabilitation, administration and vocational training.
Senior correctional officer David Petrus, who is also a pastor, encouraged learners to stay on the right path.
“Many young people are unaware of the wide range of professional paths available in NCS. With discipline, education and the right choices, one can build a meaningful career in public service,” he said.
The campaign has already made a strong impression.
Uukule SSS Principal Natangwe Nashindengo said, “This is the kind of real-life learning that textbooks cannot teach. Our learners are inspired and shaken in a good way. They now understand that drug use is not just a phase, but it has real and often permanent consequences”.
This campaign is part of the Namibian Correctional Service’s wider goal to prevent crime through education, rehabilitation and community involvement.
Instead of just locking people away, the NCS is helping break the cycle of crime before it even starts.
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