| Changing lives for good |
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Alexander McLean is only 24 – but the charity he founded at the age of 18 has helped improve the lives of hundreds of  prisoners in Kenya and Uganda, and throughout Africa. Based in Uganda’s capital Kampala, the African Prisons Project (APP) has built or refurbished libraries, clinics and health centres in prisons throughout both countries and further afield. Alexander was led to start APP when he travelled to Kampala to do some voluntary work in a hospital before studying law at Nottingham University. While there he met a group of prisoners from Luzira Upper Prison, Kampala’s largest. He remembers one prisoner in a deep coma, lying in his own waste, handcuffed to the bed, with the guard nowhere to be seen. Other patients refused food and drink to avoid soiling themselves, as there were no bedpans or commodes. This prompted Alexander to visit their prison. Built by the British in 1927 to hold 600, it now holds four times as many. Typically, a 6' x 10' cell might hold seven inmates sleeping on the floor. “I saw the appalling way in which sick prisoners were treated and decided to do something about it” Alexander says. “I did try and provide comfort to the prisoners by praying for them and comforting them while they were dying, but wanted to do more.” Arriving back in the UK, he raised some money with the support of his church, the New Testament Assembly in Tooting, went back to Luzira prison and refurbished the sick ward. When he’d finished that, he asked the prisoners if there was anything else they needed. The overwhelming response was “education”. So APP is building and stocking prison libraries and helping prisoners enrol on correspondence courses. It’s also building or refurbishing hospitals and health centres, and recruiting lawyers from the UK and Uganda to provide legal representation for people charged with capital offences. Horrified This is a cause close to Alexander’s heart. He’s been horrified by what he’s seen of some African legal systems. Accused people are often not represented by counsel, and miscarriages of justice are common. ‘Some people I know have faced the death penalty for murder, for instance, and the ‘victim’ has turned up alive and well. “Knowing that God has a heart for prison inmates and those that are treated unjustly helps keep me motivated to do the work that I do,” he continues. “There are times my staff see people being beaten, hear them screaming and crying, but can’t do anything about it because we could be removed from the prison as a security risk. “However, my faith gives me the courage and the ability to carry on when things seem overwhelming.” In spite of the negatives, he believes in Africa. “Africa is potentially blessed, and it has huge natural resources. In Africa there’s much more in terms of respect and common support.” Passion for justice Alexander does what he does out of a deep passion for justice. He admits to finding the work frustrating, and almost overwhelming – and struggles to get support. “People sometimes say, ‘Why don’t you help the innocent?’ I feel so strongly about this that I can’t understand that attitude. Why not contribute? These people are literally helpless.” I ask him why, when with his talents and ability he could make his fortune in the legal profession in this country and have a very comfortable life, he chooses to walk a much harder path. “In the UK we have so much money, so many opportunities, so many resources – but we’re always complaining and we’re never satisfied. “I see myself making a difference, and I feel fulfilled. We’re changing people’s lives.” APP provides volunteer opportunities for young people wishing to develop their skills working for a charitable organisation. Applications from medics, librarians, and people with legal and accounting skills are particularly welcome. To find out more visit www.africanprisons.org By Mark Woods |
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