Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Happy Birthday Undikumbukire!


Two years ago to this day, I had an experience that changed the recent course of my life. Looking back, I wonder if at the time it was meant only to be a single conscience-soothing act of kindness. Yet it became so much more.

In the months leading up to 28 June 2014, I had been taken to a local prison, Kamwala Remand Prison, in my capacity as a concerned lawyer, to learn more about the challenges facing the Zambian juvenile justice system. What I couldn’t forget were the looks of hopelessness in the eyes of the boys and the harsh conditions. As the cold season approached I decided to rally my friends and collect enough money to donate blankets to the prison. Not that I specifically viewed it as a one-time thing, but at least it would give me some peace of mind whenever I felt the morning chill in the air.

That day, 28 June 2014, I went with a few friends to drop at the prison the 50 blankets we had purchased. I assumed we would just be sticking them inside the gate and then be on our way. However, the prison officers insisted we give the blankets directly to the juveniles and before we knew it, we had donned bright yellow visitor vests and had been ushered inside the prison and into the juvenile area. After an awkwardly formal handover of a blanket to one of the youngest of the 59, the officers left us with instructions to mingle and chat to the boys. Eventually the awkwardness wore off, thanks to the easy topic of the ongoing football world cup. Before we knew it the officers were back and ready to escort us out. But first, we were to receive a “vote of thanks” from our new friends. One of the older boys was quickly chosen to speak on behalf of the group. I will never forget the theme of his words – Yes, that night they would be warm because of the blankets, but what they would be talking about was that today they had visitors. He plead with us not to just leave that place, blankets delivered, and the boys then forgotten. He asked that we remember them and that we promise to return again to visit. We promised.

Later that day I posted this on Facebook:




















It was on that day that “Undikumbukire” (“Remember me”) was born.

Little could I imagine then we would return, first every three weeks, then every two weeks, and then every week to have fun with and encourage these “Kamwala boys”. In the past two years I estimate we have visited with over 1000 imprisoned juveniles across 9 prison facilities.

Little could I imagine that 15 months later I would take a further step to begin coordinating legal representation – which back then was unfamiliar and daunting. Since October 2015 we have represented 38 juveniles and 99 imprisoned migrants in court proceedings. We are working to get 68 more juveniles their day in court within the next two months.

Little could I imagine we would get involved in advocacy on a major human rights/Anti Human Trafficking issue and see 40 boys pardoned of 15 year sentences.

Little could I imagine that I would be building a team of community members to stay involved in the lives of these teens as they get their freedom and face the future.

Little could I imagine what joy I would experience inside the walls of a deteriorating prison.

One of my motivating factors in getting involved with these boys and this work has been my Christian faith. In looking back over the past two years, the triumphant song “Never Alone” (by Matt Redman) comes to mind:

“Standing on this mountaintop

Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step

You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground

Seeing just how much You’ve done

Knowing every victory

Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way

But with joy our hearts can say

Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful, God, You are faithful.”

You may have noticed that as I write this I constantly say “we”. I’m so grateful for the “we” that has been a part of this project from the very first visit – the friends who pitched in to get those first blankets, the volunteers who have made time to visit the boys in prison, the generous community members who have given so items to improve the day to day lives of imprisoned juveniles, the 4 lawyers and 3 advising lawyers who have handled all our cases pro bono, the friends and family who are supporting me financially so that I have the freedom to pursue this project….And to my Lord who continues to sustain me and show me joy in the midst of a grim reality.

With all that has happened in two short years, I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Happy Birthday Undikumbukire! May you see many more years of success!

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