PF Germany Celebrates 5 Years of Prisma
On 14 September, an estimated 1,000 people participated in the five year anniversary celebration of the Prisma programme at Youth Farm Seehaus. Various speakers praised the work of Prisma including the mayor of Leonberg and the department chief from the Ministry of Justice in Baden- Wuerttemberg State.
Alex, a graduate from Seehaus, told
his story of coming to terms with issues from his early childhood,
obtaining his education diploma and working as a carpenter. He also
spoke about travelling to Romania with Seehaus staff and students to
work for a week in PF Romania’s children’s home and how this impacted
him. A musical presentation from ten Seehaus students was also warmly
received.
Situated in a 400 year-old building in the city of Leonberg in
Baden-Wurttemberg State, the Prisma programme at the Youth Farm Seehaus
serves young offenders from the age of 14 to 23. Eligible youth have a
prison sentence of two to three years and have committed a variety of
offenses excluding homicide and sex offenses. Programme participants –
known as students – live with families residing with their own children
on the campus. Currently, three families share their lives with up to
seven students each.
The programme can last from 12 to 24 months depending on the individual
sentence. Interested young offenders apply for the programme
generally within the first two weeks of their sentence. Seehaus staff
and a committee from the prison staff then review the applications for
appropriateness. Currently, ten students are participating in the
programme with a maximum capacity of eighteen. PF Germany is working to
expand this to a maximum capacity of thirty students.
Prisma seeks to help students take responsibility for their lives and
behaviour. To this end, activities focus on three different areas:
- Victim awareness programmes, community service and (when appropriate) victim offender reconciliation to deal with the past;
- Life in community with other students and staff members and the development of a positive peer environment to develop new coping and relational skills in present circumstances;
- Preparation for a life without crime and for life in the community for the future.
To meet these goals, students receive an education, skills training in different crafts, mentoring, and aftercare services from qualified Christian staff and volunteers. Of the eighteen students to graduate from the programme to date only three have returned to prison.
