You will find here answers to the most frequently asked questions about our activities.

New questions pop up every day, and we will add new, relevant and useful questions from time to time.

1. Why do we not work with other NGOs?

We have no objection to working with other associations, quite the opposite in fact. However, there are very few NGOs working in prisons. One place where there are more NGOs is the health sector outside the prison environment. We never hesitate to get in contact with them in order to ensure the follow up with freed prisoners  (for example, with regard to tritherapies)

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2. Why do we work so much with religious groups?

Simply because they are the most present and most devoted to the prisoners. They work in the prison (the communicate with patients with psychiatric complaints, they treat wounds, they provide support, …).

As a result, their experience, their advice and the fact of our being able to rely of them for follow-up and/or cooperation in certain projects that we run make them very valuable to us.

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3. How do we organise our local offices?

We have an agreement with the LIKALO Cultural and Technical Centre. The Centre promotes values which are identical to ours and is located near the prison. They make meeting rooms, an office, logistical material and communications technology available to us. The director of the Centre, Thomas, is our main representative on the ground. 

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4. What part does voluntary work take in AOE?

In Europe, currently (September, 2007) we are all volunteers. There are five of us who frequently work for the organisation and each of us has a clearly defined role. In addition, we also benefit from the work of other people, for specific projects. In Africa, we have two people who work for us all year round, partially as volunteers. We also benefit from a strong and natural solidarity for our work, which means that we are also assisted in much more informal ways.

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5. Why do we want to involve schools and youth movements in our work

The young people that we involve in our work are at a crucial period in their lives (the end of their secondary education). Getting closer to the reality in Africa, at a time when their future professional careers are being chosen, can help lead them to more rewarding choices than simply chasing pure profit. Working for others can lead them to work on themselves. That said, we do not exclude people of any age and welcome all people with open arms!