As a result of an initial visit by the Service Learning team to the Tangaza alumni and students working at the prisons in 2021, the Service Learning Africa Hub collaborated with the Counselling Psychology department at the Institute of Youth Studies at Tangaza University College, to initiate comprehensive psychosocial support services to prison officers at Langata Women’s Prison and Kamiti Medium and Maximum prisons. This program, formalized by an MOU (March 2023) aims to address the mental health and well-being of the prison officers and staff, equipping them with essential counselling skills and strategies to master their challenging work environment. Qualified counsellors assisted by the IYS counselling students, actively provide therapy for the officers and their family members. This meaningful involvement engages a core principle of Service Learning which is the interaction of theory, learned by the Tangaza students, with the practical application to the needs and circumstances of the prison officers.
Prison officers are given tools, techniques and strategies to enhance their mental well-being and to practice stress management, suicide prevention, conflict resolution, decision-making skills and essential training to identify, respond to potential risks, and build positive relations with inmates. Further training in self-awareness, self-care, emotional intelligence, family relationships, the dynamics of work and ranks within the prison system are among the areas given attention.
To ensure a personalized approach to support, the program offers services, including playgroups to foster comradeship among officers, individual counseling sessions for those in need of one-on-one support, and group therapy for collective healing and skill development. These approaches aim to cater to the diverse needs of the prison officers and create a more resilient and capable workforce at Langata Women’s Prison and Kamiti medium and maximum prisons. This program exemplifies the commitment to enhancing the overall prison environment and contribute to the rehabilitation and welfare of both inmates and officers.