Saint Lucia Launches Community ReEntry Program For Offenders

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Youth Resilience, Inclusion and Empowerment (Y-RIE) program, in collaboration with the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment (MESJE) launched the Community ReEntry Program (C-REP). The program will reintegrate approximately 20 individuals between the ages of 18-35 who are completing sentences at correctional facilities or have recently been released. This pilot program will offer 18 months of services including tailored case management, life skills, vocational and remedial education training, entrepreneurial support, career counselling, community engagement, psychosocial support, and basic needs support. The services will provide participants with the resources to re-enter their communities and reduce the likelihood of reoffending. C-REP is being implemented by the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF) and will engage partners from multiple agencies. At the program launch, C-REP was cited as more than just a re-entry program but a commitment to empower individuals to transform their lives and positively reintegrate into society. The event brought together government officials, community leaders, and stakeholders to support this turning point in promoting second chances, social justice, and community well-being. “This multi-agency partnership is key to the success of the program and represents the whole-of-government approach needed for addressing today’s most challenging...