West Africa analyses and the world observes how minors in Senegal’s state penitentiary take to fenci

Some have proven to be skeptical of the idea of giving jailed minors weapons to combat against other jailed minors. Although it does seem alarming at first, have people really thought about every aspect? Senegal took the challenge on head first.

The young prisoners in Senegal have committed crimes because they don’t know how they're supposed to behave in society. To be able to behave well in society they go to a fencing class in an open studio two times a week to be taught how to follow rules, why rules are important, how to behave after something doesn’t go their way, and regaining their self-esteem. Sounds risky, but it seems to be working.

An article on jollofnews said a woman named Nellie Robinson teamed with The Association Pour le Sourire d’un Enfant (ASE) and with The Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). Together they had made some strong arguments as to how this program will help achieve their goals. It turns out that she was right. They now want to spread this program to all juvenile prisons and hope for so much more in the future if all goes well.

This special program brings a better more substantial relationship between the prison guards and the children, said Nosmot Gbadamosi, for CNN. “fencing teaches you to have an open heart”, says 17-year-old Daouda. The prison guards themselves are now being taught how to fence to help the children perfect their skills. This makes their relationship change from punisher and delinquent to teacher and student. It’s a way of bonding and that creates good role models for them.

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Teachers at schools are similar to the prison guards who help the kids. There are fewer students here at PACT. That makes it easier for the teacher and students. At PACT teachers are able to reach out to students individually academically. Ask questions, ask them how they're doing at school, and help them with whatever they need. Teachers easily become role models especially for younger kids and the same is for the older students. When there are advisory buddies the kids naturally start to look up to the older kids because the older kids give them attention and listen to them.

Like a job, the prisoners are able to get “promoted”, said Hawa Ba, the program manager. After the older kids have nearly perfected their skills, they teach younger kids. This makes it possible for the older kids to be role models for other kids. They learn patience and how to care for others. They can then turn it into a job where they will get paid after they get out of prison. This gives them something to look forward to which gets them determined. They can make money quickly after getting out of prison which can result in them going onto a better life instead back out to commit crimes and eventually end back where they began.

When reading other articles they give the impression that the country of Senegal is doing poorly in other ways as well. The justice system, in general, needs to show some improvement. The program is working on changing Senegal’s laws and regulations that are more in line with human rights standards. Ba told CNN “The children aren’t the problem. There’s something [seriously] wrong with the justice system.”

Why teach the children fencing? Why not teach them karate? Tricia Sullivan, a woman who has been involved in karate for over 30 years, said that karate is for fighting. By teaching them how to fence instead of teaching karate, children don’t have to physically touch each other but just use their swords. The swords act as a barrier to separate opponents since karate can be unpredictable and that can create a lot more chaos. A website on fencing in schools says that they teach it because it allows the children to learn discipline and “It’s one of the safest and healthiest Olympic sports.

According to Nosmot Gbadamosi when the children are on the way to their lessons, they get driven which can be risky because there’s always the possibility that a kid could escape. Some may come to the conclusion that it’s a dangerous thing when you give a kid who has stabbed someone, a weapon with so many other people around with weapons as well.

Although these situations seem likely to happen, they haven’t and are, in fact, unlikely to happen. Possibly because the kids know they would be caught after trying to escape right away and there are people there to make sure that doesn’t happen. The possibility of a kid who has hurt someone to hurt another in the studio is highly unlikely. There is gear that makes it safe and they learn early on in the lessons what the goal of the match is. To defeat your opponent, not hurt them.

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All the different significant changes that people wanted to see have changed so many of these kids and their relationship with society. The ASE founder said she has seen a gradual change in the behavior of everyone that’s been involved. The skeptics have been convinced of the value of this unusual way of teaching. They haven’t had any major problems so far and it’s a fairly new program so there’s been no evidence of anyone who has completed fencing but they all show promise. Their hopes may come true in the future but for now, they are happy with how things have turned out.

Ba said that it had even gone beyond any of their expectations. Because of prison officials stepping up to be the role models these children need, it has made the program highly successful.