Organisers forecast 1000 to take part in October 21 fundraising walk

This year’s 10th anniversary walk will be held in conjunction with the launch of the Yellow Ribbon campaign.

The Fiji Corrections Service is expecting to host a total of 1000 participants for the walkathon scheduled for October 21 in Suva.

Speaking at the launch yesterday, Director of the Yellow Ribbon Project Elenani Vuru said the walk was also an opportunity for the service to reflect on what they had achieved and identify areas to be changed in order to successfully rehabilitate and introduce ex-offenders back into the society. “The yellow ribbon walk is an awareness campaign to boost and inspire the community to play their part in the rehabilitation process. We cannot do this alone,” Ms Vuru said. “This programme will only work through community engagement.

“We are also proud to announce that we will be showcasing our special business units at the event.”

She said the service hosted a number of special business units where inmates were trained with skills including tailoring, carpentry, joinery, art and farming.

“These units teach our inmates skills which they can use in the outside world and some of them are already earning while they are inside the institution. All this will be available for the public to witness on the day,” she said. Ms Vuru acknowledged the role of the media in raising awareness about the campaign.

She said the media created awareness to help communities absorb former inmates back into the society.

The Fiji Corrections Service has also dedicated the first two kilometres of the walk to senior citizens.

The walk will start at 6am from Albert Park and will end at the park.

Walkers will include members of the corporate sector, civil service, schools in the Suva area, members of the disciplined forces, NGOs and faith based organisations.