National Affiliates and Restorative Justice

Sycamore Tree Programme from Prison Fellowship England and Wales

In this four minute video, members of Prison Fellowship England and Wales share about restorative justice and the ministry's adaptation of the Sycamore Tree Proejct (R).

PF Swaziland volunteer brings victims and offenders together

Recently, Dennis Shongwe responded to a case of common assault in his community by approaching both the victim and the offender to ask if they wanted to participate in a restorative conference. In doing so, the active PF Swaziland volunteer decided to put into practice some of the concepts he learned at the International Diploma in Restorative Justice course in July 2011.

Sycamore Tree Project® from a Victim’s Perspective

Recently, Martin Howard, Sycamore Tree Project® (STP) facilitator in Australia, and Ross Thompson, a victim participant, spoke about their experience in an 18 minute radio interview. Ross spoke of the impact of losing his son in a brutal murder.

Sycamore Tree Project® in Fiji’s Women’s Correctional Centre

“Having female inmates as part of the course has been an eye opening experience for all of us,” said PF Fiji’s executive director Dan Savou after facilitating his second Sycamore Tree Project® (STP) course. The course, which ran in the Women’s Correctional Centre in late 2011, included eleven female prisoners and two victims.

Sycamore Tree Project® report from Australia

From the article by Martin Howard: Once again the Sycamore Tree Project® was able to achieve remarkable outcomes in the lives of inmates and crime victims during the latest program run in late 2011.

Sycamore Tree Project®: A prison chaplain describes the impact

Shawn Verhey works as prison chaplain at Thorn Cross Young Offender Institution in England. In this interview, he describes the powerful impact of Prison Fellowship England and Wales' Sycamore Tree Project® for both prisoners and victims.

PF El Salvador signs agreement to implement a community service project

In August 2011, PF El Salvador signed a cooperation agreement with USAID to deliver oversight and organisational services for a community service alternative for juvenile offenders. The agreement provides financial and technical assistance with the national ministry offering a range of project options to various juvenile courts in municipalities located in the department of San Salvador.

PF Bahamas launches the Sycamore Tree Project®

On 3 November, PF Bahamas held the first session of the Sycamore Tree Project®(STP) after six months of preparatory work. As a part of the programme launch, the national ministry, along with the Bahamas Prison Service, hosted an opening ceremony attended by the Commissioner of Prisons and the Minister for Social Development. With permission of the six victim and six prisoner participants, several press organisations also sent representatives to the opening ceremony.

Introducing the Sycamore Tree Project® from PF England & Wales

Ciaran Nagle, a PF England and Wales volunteer, describes the Sycamore Tree Project® as run by PF England and Wales. In so doing, he tells the story of one prisoner participant who had a profound experience in the programme.

The word on everyone's lips: Reconciliation

From the article at Prison Fellowship Rwanda: News & Updates: A word closely associated with Rwanda today is 'reconciliation', but what does this really mean and how does one go about achieving it? As it turns out, PFR's Project Manager Felix is the man to ask.

Zimbabwe project welcomes ex-prisoners

From the article from the United Methodist Church News: Denford Muliliwana, a 33-year-old man released from jail after serving a six-year sentence, walked in. He wore rumpled, dark-green trousers and a white shirt with the top button undone. The eyes of the congregation were glued on him as it murmured the song of a returning prodigal son.

Update from PF Germany

In September, PF Germany celebrated the 8th anniversary for its Seehaus Leonberg programme for young offenders aged 14 to 23. Close to 1000 people attended the “Day of the Offender 2011” event with representatives from both the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches speaking. Other speakers included the previous and current Justice Ministers of Baden Wurttemberg state, the Mayor of Leonberg and a national television presenter.

Alternatives for juveniles in Bulgaria

Recently I provided restorative conferencing training for Prison Fellowship Bulgaria (PF Bulgaria) and several of its partner agencies. The twenty participants represented different public and non-governmental organisations including the Department for Child Protection, the Anti-bullying Commission of Vratsa, the Cultural Centre of Vratsa, the Probation Department, Caritas- Ruse and PF Bulgaria.

Forgiveness is a powerful thing

From the October 2011 issue of PF England & Wales' Voices newsletter: Jo became a victim of crime when her brother was murdered by two youths. She now volunteers as a victim of crime on Sycamore Tree and here she tells us her story:

Rioting and Restorative Justice

From the Prison Fellowship England & Wales newsletter Voices: Sadly, during the summer months crime has featured highly in our news stories. The impact of the disturbances around the country have rebounded across the world with the inevitable polemic from politicians and others expressing views on why it happened and what should be done to deal with those involved.

Reaching the marginalized in Lesotho

In late August, PF Lesotho partnered with World Vision for a three day workshop titled “Community Building Agents.” Serving 20 young males known as “herd boys” the workshop sought to raise awareness about the harm of crime and the responsibility for actions taken.

Sycamore Tree and its legacy in Rwanda

PF Rwanda first implemented its adaptation of the Sycamore Tree Project® -- the Umuvumu Tree Project – in 2002 in response to the continuing tensions and trauma related to the 1994 genocide. As of May 2011, 45,000 prisoners and 10,000 community members have participated in the programme resulting in statements of forgiveness and acts of reconciliation. In the words of one participant, “It is amazing how victims and perpetrators can come together today and have discussions about the past, present, and future without fear.”

Sycamore Tree Project® launched in Germany

In June 2011, PF Germany ran its first Sycamore Tree Project® (STP) in its juvenile offender programme in Seehaus Leonberg.

Former IFM and MEF members attend Sycamore Tree counseling session in Malaita.

From the article by Prison Fellowship Solomon Islands: At the welcome ceremony, one of the former Malaita Eagle force members better known as “Kernal” admitted to Joe Sangu that during the ethnic crisis, he had Joe Sangu and Harold Kekes name written on two packets of ammunition that he reserved for no one else but Joe and Harold. “Today I thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to stand before you and confess the truth about what hatred the devil can deceive us with. I welcome you and our fellow brothers from Guadalcanal to our communities in North Malaita and ask you to please forgive me for harbouring such evil thoughts in my heart for you and brother Harold.” In response Joe said “Kernal, you and I are sinners, we must continue to appreciate Gods unfailing love. God forgive us so I must give you my forgiveness”.

Former MEF, paramilitary and IFM apologise at Totongo and the Aola East Guadalcanal

From the article by Prison Fellowship Solomon Islands: Former members of the MEF, Paramilitary and IFM apologised to individuals, families and communities of Totongo and Aola for their actions over the ethnic tension experience. Thanks to the Sycamore Tree Ministry’s facilitated counselling sessions effected at Totongo and Aola east of Guadalcanal which ran from 8th to 15th June 2011.