Helping those who have gone astray to reform.

(Baonghean) - There was a time when their lives were shrouded in darkness. But thanks to the encouragement of their families and the sympathy of society, they overcame their feelings of shame and became honest people. Although the path to rehabilitation is not always smooth, with their determination to rebuild their lives, they have become useful citizens to society.

Seeking the path of goodness

Having been imprisoned twice for intentional injury, gambling, and property damage, Phan Trong Luong's life (from Hamlet 4, Dong Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh District) seemed to have come to an end. But thanks to the encouragement of his family and the concern of the local authorities, he has changed...

Hung Chau seafood processing facility is located in Dien Ngoc commune (Dien Chau district).

Upon his release from prison, he had nothing but his bare hands, while his peers had already found stable jobs and enjoyed happy family lives. Luong longed to start his life anew. Fortunately, the local authorities allowed him to take over nearly 100 hectares of chestnut forest to plant and protect. Initially, due to lack of experience, he faced many difficulties. But through these experiences, he learned the value of honest labor. Overcoming all obstacles, after 5 years, the chestnut forest yielded an income of approximately 300 million VND per year. He boldly applied to the commune for a contract to manage 800 hectares of the Ve Vung reservoir to raise fish and invest in opening a restaurant, improving the landscape, and paving the way for the development of ecotourism.

From forestry, fishing, and running a restaurant, he earns over 800 million VND per year. Currently, his business employs 20 workers with incomes ranging from a minimum of 2.2 million VND to 10 million VND per person per month… “Those who have made mistakes all want to reform, to return to being normal citizens. What they need most is the sharing and help of their families and society to regain faith in life. Hopefully, the reintegration into the community will create more opportunities for those who have made mistakes like me to overcome their guilt and rebuild their lives,” Mr. Luong expressed.

In Nghi Thuy ward (Cua Lo town), everyone admires Nguyen Dinh Khang (born in 1965) because he overcame his past mistakes to reform and become legitimately wealthy… More than 15 years ago, after leaving prison, he felt lonely, lost, and ashamed of his actions that had affected his parents, siblings, relatives, and friends. With the encouragement of others, especially his wife, he borrowed capital to open a shoe stall at Hom market.

After a period of working in Hanoi, he sought out production models to establish his own business. In 2009, he returned to his hometown and opened the Long Vân high-end lime and paint production factory. Thanks to his determination and business reputation, Mr. Khang's facility quickly captured the market and continued to grow. To date, the facility produces 1,000-1,200 tons of products annually, supplying nearly 100 large and small distributors in provinces from Ninh Binh to Quang Binh; creating stable employment for 15 permanent workers and 3-4 seasonal workers with stable salaries ranging from 3.5 to 6.5 million VND per person per month.

Not only is he skilled in business, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Khang is also an active participant in social, humanitarian, and charitable activities in the locality. In particular, he was honored to be elected by the Party Committee, the government, and the people as a member of the Executive Committee of the Nghi Thuy Ward Farmers' Association and concurrently as the Head of the Farmers' Association Branch. In 2012, he was admitted to the Party and was honored in the "Studying and Following the Moral Example of Ho Chi Minh" campaign. At the end of 2014, he was honored to be a delegate at the Conference to commend exemplary models and individuals in community reintegration for those who have completed their prison sentences, organized by the Ministry of Public Security in Hanoi.

Bridge to Rehabilitation

Recognizing the importance of community reintegration for those who have completed their prison sentences, local Party committees and authorities have implemented numerous policies and initiatives to encourage the participation of agencies, organizations, social groups, businesses, and the community in assisting those who have completed their prison sentences to return to their localities.

Dien Ngoc (Dien Chau) is one of the localities that has done well in this area. Faced with the increasing social ills in the locality, especially the number of former prisoners returning home without jobs and easily relapsing into old ways, since 2009, the commune's Party committee and government have established a Steering Committee and developed the "Joining Hands in Fishing and Seafood Processing" model. The core of the model is to encourage and motivate former offenders to reintegrate into the community, boldly borrow capital to start businesses, and acquire larger boats to venture further out to sea. However, achieving this is not simple. This is because most boat owners, as well as units and businesses, are hesitant and apprehensive about employing former prisoners. To ensure the model's effectiveness, the commune's Party committee and government have encouraged and motivated boat owners to hire former offenders who have reintegrated into the community, helping them to have a stable income. Through outreach efforts, the entire commune now has 4 boat owners and 1 seafood processing facility employing 20 former prisoners, providing them with an average income of 3.5 - 5 million VND per month.

Furthermore, Dien Ngoc commune also directed the Youth Union to establish a "Helping Friends Club" with 15 members who have completed their prison sentences. Their activities include coordinating propaganda, mobilization, and assistance for former offenders in economic activities and social activities. In addition, the commune acts as a guarantor for 8 former offenders to borrow capital from banks and invest in production and business. A typical example is Mr. Cao Duc Hien (from Yen Quang hamlet), who served a prison sentence for intentional injury. He borrowed 100 million VND from the Social Policy Bank to upgrade his boat and engage in long-term fishing at sea. Currently, Mr. Hien's boat provides employment for 18-20 workers, including 4 former prisoners who have returned to the community. Another example is Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, owner of the Hung Chau seafood processing facility, who provides employment for 3 former prisoners.

According to surveys conducted from 2008 to the present, 427 people in Thai Hoa Town have completed their prison sentences and returned to live in the locality, many of whom have re-offended. In response to this situation, at the end of 2013, the People's Committee of Thai Hoa Town developed a model titled "Eliminating stigma, bringing smiles, and helping those who have committed offenses." After more than a year of implementing community reintegration programs for those who have completed their prison sentences, 342 out of 427 offenders have successfully reintegrated into the community, overcoming their feelings of shame and inferiority, and striving to achieve legitimate wealth. A typical example is Mr. Nguyen Canh Thong (in Tay Ho II block - Quang Tien ward), who, after serving a 7-year prison sentence for illegal drug trafficking, returned to the locality and, with the encouragement and support of various departments and organizations, overcame his feelings of shame, participated in social activities, and was trusted by the people in his block to be elected as deputy block leader and head of the neighborhood security team.

For example, Mr. Ho Ngoc Dien (from Tay Hieu commune), after serving his sentence, was hired as a worker by Tay Hieu I Farm and assigned to manage 2 hectares of land planted with perennial rubber trees. Similarly, Ms. Le Thi Yen (from Quang Tien ward), after serving a 10-year prison sentence, was able to secure a bank loan of 80 million VND through the ward's Women's Association to open a gas and gas stove business. Now, her family has a stable income averaging 8-9 million VND per month, enabling them to send their two children to university…

Rehabilitation is the aspiration of most people after serving their prison sentences. However, a lack of life skills, social knowledge, and a troubled past are significant obstacles preventing inmates from returning to the right path and finding suitable employment. The road back will be much smoother when they receive care from their families and support from society. With the attention and active coordination between various levels, sectors, and local authorities, models for reintegrating offenders into the community are being developed and replicated throughout the province. This is an important foundation that helps those who have made mistakes to have the opportunity to improve themselves, actively strive for economic development, actively participate in the local movement to protect national security, and contribute to preventing the 발생 of crime and violations of the law.

Ngoc Anh