On the 27th August 2025, the Senior Correctional Center at Dzorwulu, a suburb of Accra, was filled with excitement as juveniles and prison officers alike took part in a hands-on training session on liquid soap and fabric softener production. Organized under the Reduce Recidivism initiative and facilitated by Everloving Owusuaa Apenteng with support from founder Tracy Frimpong, the workshop aimed to equip participants with practical, marketable skills to help them rebuild their lives after incarceration. From the very start, Kwesi, an inmate often labeled difficult, showed remarkable enthusiasm, his energy drawing in others as he stirred each mixture with precision and focus. What began with nine participants soon grew to fifteen as curious onlookers joined in, eager to learn.
The process itself was simple yet captivating. With guidance from the facilitators, the group dissolved caustic soda in water, then mixed in sulphonic acid, fragrance, and color before adding soda ash for thickness. Everyone—juveniles and officers alike—took turns stirring steadily as the dull solution transformed into a bright, lemon-green liquid detergent. Bottling followed amid cheers and laughter before the session moved seamlessly into fabric softener preparation, leaving the participants with neatly packaged products and a clear sense of accomplishment.
But beyond the bottles of soap and softener lay a deeper lesson. Just as Kwesi’s enthusiasm inspired others to join, the right opportunities can influence lives toward change.
This single workshop demonstrated that reducing recidivism goes beyond punishment; it is about equipping young people with skills, confidence, and hope for a better future. Reduce Recidivism calls on individuals, organizations, and partners to support such initiatives—because each skill shared today could keep a life from returning to crime tomorrow.
