AMSTERDAM ISSUE 64 Jan 2007

Art for a Charitable Cause: Young in Prison

Worldwide, there are more than a million children in prison, for large and small offences. Unfortunately, where the goal is correction, in reality it causes more harm than good... 

A simple broken window can lead to months in prison, awaiting trial in an overcrowded dark cell infested with vermin. The child has to stop going to school and loses contact with his family. Sometimes, children of pre-school age have to share a cell with adults.

Young In Prison (YiP) say that prison should be a chance for 'correction through development, not trauma through abuse'. The organisation has been active in detention centres in a number of countries since 2002, offering practical solutions and organising activities with a focus on life after prison.

YiP ART was set up to raise funds and awareness. The photos shown here are from a recent exhibition which raised 70,000 Euro to help fund the charity's work.