News Release

For immediate release

14 April 2016

Changing Lives through Literacy at Tongariro Prison

A student at Tongariro Prison believes his life has changed since learning to read. For six months Sam* has been participating in the Howard League Literacy Programme and is enthusiastic that the ability to read will help him turn his life around when he is released.

Local volunteer Sandra works with Sam once a week. The League’s literacy programme is delivered by volunteers and aims to improve the literacy levels of prisoners. Around 70% of prisoners have low levels of reading and writing.

“Before I started learning with Sandra, I would not even attempt to try and read, I used to push books and papers away. I did not enjoy learning. I can now read words and I have even written a letter to my mother,” says Sam.

“Sandra is patient with me and understands my learning needs, that is; she knows what works and what doesn’t work for me. Before, simple things such as days and months meant nothing to me; I didn’t even know there were four seasons! Just knowing I can learn and can do it is life changing. I know I have a long way to go but I am now enjoying learning and I am no longer pushing away books and papers and I am even trying to read the sub-titles on our TVs!”

Sandra decided to try tutoring at the prison after a meeting with two nuns in Rome while travelling in Europe in 2000,

“They told me about the voluntary work they do providing literacy support in Tongariro Prison and given my background suggested I give this some thought. The nuns spoke effusively about the joy they gained in helping someone to read. This conversation planted the seed in my head for possible voluntary work in the future.”

Being a dedicated sort of person who really wanted to make a contribution to her local community, Sandra followed up when she returned. She investigated online and found out more about the Howard League Literacy Programme. Her application was successful and she hasn’t looked back since.

“I have travelled the world and taught wealthy families, this is my way of giving back. Knowing that I have helped someone is rewarding, knowing that someone is enjoying learning gives me happiness, knowing that someone can now read is ‘my everything.’”

“Sam has grown so much in confidence and competence. We can now have a conversation, not only can he read words, he can now comprehend them.”

The Howard League is actively recruiting more volunteers to extend this programme. Principal Adviser Rehabilitation and Learning, Cynthia Ellis, is keen to hear from locals with a keen interest in reading or previous teaching experience,

“You don’t need to be a fan of Shakespeare, but if you like helping people and love to read you might be able to make a real difference for someone who perhaps didn’t get the chance to get the education they needed to be a positive member of society.”

If you are interested in volunteering with the Howard League you can contact Cynthia on 07 384 7499 or cynthia.ellis@corrections.govt.nz

In addition to volunteers such as the New Zealand Howard League, Corrections provides a range of literacy and numeracy support to prisoners. The Department is committed to providing prisoners with the literacy and numeracy support they need to progress into higher level education and employment.

ENDS

*name changed for privacy

Additional Information:

Corrections’ Central Region covers a large geographic area from just north of Te Kauwhata to just south of Turangi stretching across the widest part of New Zealand. The Corrections’ Central Region includes more than 20 Community Corrections sites and three prisons (Tongariro Prison, Waikeria Prison and Spring Hill Corrections Facility) across three Districts: Bay of Plenty, Waikato, and Rotorua/Taupo/Tokoroa.

Nationally each week the Department of Corrections manage over 35,000 sentences and orders in the community and over 9,000 people in prison. Our 8,000 staff are committed to supporting offenders to help them address their offending and gain skills that will help them lead a crime-free life.

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