Doors slam and loud voices ring out in the background, as a group of women meet in a tiny office in the women’s section of Pollsmoor Prison near Cape Town. But inside the office, oblivious to the distractions, the women, all inmates, are holding an editorial meeting to decide on the content for the next edition of Women’s Link, one of South Africa’s most unusual publications.

Launched in December 2002, Women’s Link - which is published three times a year, with edition seven having come out end November 2004 - is testimony to how media can take root and grow, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

Women's Link is staffed by women in jail for a variety of offences that include murder, fraud, armed robbery and house breaking. The women involved have all been trained by facilitators from Arts and Media Access Centre (AMAC) - a NiZA partner up until 2005 - in a variety of skills, including media literacy, news gathering, writing skills, ethics and developing an editorial policy.

The publication has given the inmates of the prison a powerful voice, allowing them a space for moving personal testimonies, debate, to express opinions, highlight role models and emphasise positive stories.


Prison slang

Issues driven, the publication has so far covered mothers and children in prison, living with HIV/AIDS, rehabilitation and the parole system. Also included in the mix are beauty and health, recipes, jokes, a puzzle page and feedback from readers.

Juveniles are responsible for the 'Kidz on the Block' section, which includes personal stories, the ever-popular 'Hunk of the Month' and 'Tronk Taal' - explaining prison slang.

Many of those involved say it has been a 'healing tool' and working on the publication has taught them to once again trust others and work together as a team, something out of the ordinary in prison where trust is rare.

Beatrice Caswell said: "It has allowed me the space to write about what I feel, to express my opinions, it has been a fantastic healing process for me and for the others. We have learned to accept and respect each other’s opinions. It has helped me to accept what I did and where I am. I’m a better person for it."


Training of new inmates

Producing the publication is an ongoing challenge: inmates have limited access to other sections of the prison and always have to be accompanied by a warder. They are locked up in their cells from 3 pm every day and arranging editorial meetings and access to computer equipment is difficult under those circumstances. Equally challenging is the lack of continuity, with inmates being constantly transferred and released, and new inmates must be trained on an ongoing basis.

Pauline Bester, the warden in charge of sports and recreation in the women’s section at Pollsmoor, has been a driving force behind the publication from inception. She said: "Communication is very difficult inside a prison, between inmates and between inmates and the authorities."

"This has been a powerful medium for inmates to express their voices, and for warders to connect with inmates. You would be amazed to see how it has made a difference, it is as if the women working on the newsletter glow, it has given them self confidence and focus and taught them to face obstacles, not just walk away."


Reintegration

With regards to helping the women find a job, so far there has been no feedback on whether this has happened. But more important is that the women involved learn about working together as a team, communication, respect and many other issues. These lessons learned, without a doubt, play an important role in their rehabilitation and prepares them for reintegration into society.

The next issue will come out around March.

Raymond Joseph has worked with the team of AMAC and the Pollsmore women inmates during a training funded by NiZA. He is a freelance journalist and media trainer, specialising in community media and start-ups of new publications. Raymond is based in Cape Town, but works throughout the Southern African region. rayjoe@iafrica.com