Students from Spring of Life Secondary School, Enugu have recently completed a two-week internship in PRAWA. This is part of PRAWA’s concerted effort in educating the younger generation on issues making rounds in the penal sector like torture and the rights of prisoners. Among the students who participated in the internship were Nonso Ezenwere, Sonia Nwanji, Omale Comfort, Chinaze Nkwazema, Ashley Mgodile and Chimdindu Ndukaife, all majoring in Arts. In the course of the internship, the students were moved through all the departments in PRAWA, understudying staff in the different departments for a period of time.

The students were taught basic human rights, rights of prisoners, a few fundamentals on the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and were also taken on a tour to the Enugu state judiciary and the Enugu prison. Speaking to the interns who were elated about the process they have been put through and how the internship have affected their lives, they poured out their hearts; Boma Dodo and Ada Onyebuchi, senior secondary class three art students, who plan to study Accountancy and Economics respectively in the University of Nigeria say they learnt how to prepare a trial balance sheet, basics about mass media and the communication flow between PRAWA and the stakeholders. While Ada wants to establish her own NGO in the near future, Boma says she will keep practicing the things she has learnt and also be the best in her school.

Chukwubuikem Okoye, also an Arts student of the school was so enthused from all he had learned about the hierarchy of courts, system of imprest and how to prepare financial statements. He also says he would love to be a practicing Lawyer after graduating from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He would also teach young people who do not have this kind opportunity.

Ujuamara Etiwelu, another student who participated in the internship said she would love to study International Relations in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. She also says she learnt a lot on how to boost her confidence and also the jurisdiction of the different courts in the country.

It was a melo-dramatic out pour of emotions at the end the second week which marked the end of the internship. PRAWA issued each student a certificate of participation, pledging unwavering support to the school in the area of internship.