‘I was a hopeless case … now I have a great future in a job I love’

Former inmate tells how study scheme transformed his life.

Once a secondary school drop-out serving three years in jail and with no plans for the future, S?J, 28, is now the manager of a petrol station and holding a degree.
"I never finished my education," he says. "My father passed away and we had a lot of family problems." The youngest of seven – four sisters and two brothers – he dropped out of school to work for the Government.
"I was young and I got mixed up with the wrong crowd. In the last few months of my sentence, I heard about the work readiness programme and got really excited about it."
The only obstacle, he said, was a requirement of at least one year remaining on his sentence.
"I had only six months but I argued that a semester was only four months and I could continue later at the college. But he classes were full and there were five of us wanting to enrol. We were put on the waiting list and promised that if anyone got early release and left, we would be allowed in."
By chance, four prisoners left the programme. "But again there was a problem that there were five of us and only four places. So the programme director decided that he would examine all of us and those of us who got the highest grades would enter the programme.
"This was one of the most stressful times of my life. After the exam, I kept asking the other four how they did. I was very scared. I spoke English a little with my family and knew how to use the computer well but I was still very worried.
"When the results came out, the instructor called out my name. My heart sank, I thought he was definitely calling out the one student who had failed the test."
S?J not only passed the test, but was the only one to receive a perfect score.
He was released in 2008 and finished his degree at HCT. "Emotionally it was hard. I was treated like everyone else at the college. In prison we were never treated like inmates but like students. But it was still very different being out of prison and at college. It took me a while to get used to the change."
After completing the course work, students go through eight weeks of work placement.
"HCT happened to have a career fair and one of the employers was Adnoc, and I applied there."
His interview went so well that he was immediately offered a full-time position.
"I loved it there. They asked me to remain after my work placement and I stayed with them even though I wasn't getting paid. I was enjoying the work so much."
In June 2009 he was hired as a full-time employee, and later promoted to manager of an Adnoc station.
"This degree has changed my life and perspective on things."
B R, 33, has a year remaining on his four-year sentence for drug offences.
"I joined the programme last year and I have learnt many things since then," he says.
"I had dropped out of school because I really couldn't afford it and chose to work instead. This programme has helped me continue my education and it's free.
"I hardly knew how to use the computer before but now I have learnt how to go online and do research. Other inmates who have graduated tell me that they have all found employment. I can't wait to finish my sentence and get a job."
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