Written on July 27th
Architects of Life (AOL) is a social enterprise aimed at crushing stigmas around ex-offenders. They do this through education programs with youth, making a book, fund-raising events to train ex-offenders and fostering conversations between ex-offenders and people to create empathy rather than fear. Today I interviewed Ms.Aditi Rao. She works at AOL and helps them organise programs and projects.
Key Takeaways:
- “There’s no perfect formula, it’s just a trial and error.” This is exactly why it’s so important that Singapore uses several different strategies (perhaps several different forms of power) to address this issue. Everyones journey is different. Based on peoples experiences and personalities, some initiatives will be better than others. It is important the Singapore has wide variety of treatments so that if one doesn’t work, the drug abuser can try another.
- They are very vulnerable when they are released from prison. It is important that they have a supportive family or community to talk to and to feel a sense of belonging. One of the biggest obstacles for ex-offenders is finding employment after they are released from prison.
- She doesn’t believe in capital punishment
- Factors that make people more vulnerable include unstable or toxic home environment (eg.people who grow up in broken homes, abusive parents, etc.)
- Having a low income will make people more likely to commit crimes. Crime rate is definitely high where there’s is poverty and unemployment
- She wishes that the community would talk about these issue more openly and in a less formal way. It is important for everyone to understand the topics complexity.
- There is a gap in knowledge amongst the general public. Before joining AOL she had no idea that it was such a problem.
- She feels that employers should not ask about peoples criminal records as it is something in the past and it is something they cannot change.
- Foreign media plays a big role in influencing the youth in regards to drugs (in a negative way)
- She feels that in past few years there has been a lot of global governance in this issue. The UN is involved and talking about it. Governments are collaborating with other countries.
- Another shift is a lot of ex-offenders who have had a tough time are taking steps to make it easier for current offenders (eg. providing employment, counselling etc.)
- The yellow ribbon project brought significant change.
Verification of engagement activity: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1T47h7d7eHKa8UABeX-RkG6Ld1W4HerVK3CkvAhe-GZg/edit