Tears of joy as Hawke's Bay prisoners achieve literacy goals

A prisoner accepts his certificate and a dictionary, presented by Craig Foss, National MP, Tukituki, after graduating. Photo / Duncan Brown

For one of the inmates at Hawke's Bay Regional Prison yesterday was a time for tears.

Tears of joy for reaching a goal he never thought he would be able to reach.

The 50-year-old man was presented with an achievement award for literacy by Tukituki MP Craig Foss and became the 48th inmate to receive the award, which was set up by the New Zealand Howard League at the prison five years ago.

"I just want to thank you," he said quietly to the small gathering of people on hand to see it.

"For 50 years I never learned how to write properly or read - I didn't even know where a full stop went."

He went silent for a moment and his voice broke.

"I am honoured - it means so much to me."

His tutor, one of 450 volunteer teachers on the Howard League's books across the country, said her "student" had wanted to learn more than anyone she had ever taught during her stint assisting prisoners there.

"You have not wasted your time and I hope your next 50 years are a lot different than the last 50."

The league's president, Tony Gibbs, told the proud recipient to "keep going, keep going".
"We are here to honour what you have done," he said, before adding with a smile "and when you get out of here soon don't come back".

After a short break the second award recipient, and the 49th to graduate from the course, quietly stepped forward.

His tutor, Ann, said it had been a privilege to work with him for 11 months and that she had seen him "grow with confidence".

To her delight, and the delight of Mr Foss and Mr Gibbs, he then walked to his chair and picked up a small folded square of paper.

It was the speech he had written and he slowly, but clearly, thanked everyone who had helped him and "for giving me this opportunity".

Ann said it was rewarding to work with men like him.

"They choose to do this and the ones who take it on just suck it up - they really want to do it."

The league's chief executive Mike Williams said the prison was "miles ahead" of others across the country in raising the literacy numbers among inmates.

"It is pretty uplifting to see this."

He said the league, and its devoted tutors, aimed to help prisoners with their eventual integration back into society while serving their sentences through basic literacy courses and upskilling.

He said up to half the prisoners in New Zealand jails were functionally illiterate.
The league also canvases employers for jobs for appropriately released prisoners as research showed that leaving jail for a job heavily reduced the chance of re-offending.

In congratulating the latest graduates Mr Foss said their success buoyed everyone as they were determined to make their lives better.

"And this will whet your appetite to continue to learn, to understand the world and your positioning in the world in a better way."

Mr Foss said the Government would continue its support of the league and yesterday's award ceremony was "why we do this".