About CRROA

Who we are

CRROA — the Crime Prevention, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Ex-Offenders Association — is a legally registered, non-profit Non-Governmental Organisation founded in 2010 by ex-offenders in Lesotho. Each of our founders has, in their own way, successfully rebuilt their life after serving a prison sentence.

We exist to extend services and support to inmates, ex-offenders and adolescents in the Juvenile Training Centre. Our core mandate is to work with communities and law enforcement agencies to reduce crime in Lesotho, and to deter potential perpetrators by sharing our own experiences.

Ex-Prisoners against Crime.

Our three pillars

Crime Prevention — raising awareness of Lesotho’s alarmingly high crime rate and promoting public safety.
Rehabilitation — focusing on the meaning and aims of resocialisation and transformation of inmates, and the measures needed for that process to work.
Reintegration — preventing re-offending through social and economic empowerment, and creating a network for inmates and ex-offenders across the country.

Mission

Working towards a crime-free society through extensive rehabilitation of inmates, ex-offenders and victims, raising awareness on HIV/AIDS, GBV and mental health issues, as well as advocating deterrence for potential perpetrators.

Vision

To bridge the rift that exists between the victims of crime and their offenders, and to restore kinship among ex-inmates, families and communities.

Our objectives

To organise and contribute towards the provision of correctional, educational, vocational and crime prevention programs and judicial reforms.
To create employment opportunities for ex-offenders.
To eliminate the stigma and discrimination placed on ex-offenders, and to provide support for victims of crime.
To provide support to children born in correctional facilities, children of inmates and juveniles in training centres.
To provide social support, human rights monitoring and advocacy, reintegration programs and advisory services for inmates.
To take an active part in national restorative justice.
To raise awareness among inmates and ex-offenders of communicable and non-communicable diseases, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), STIs, cervical and breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, TB and mental health.
To prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infections among inmates, ex-inmates and the broader community.

Our priorities

Building the capacity of Board members in governance.
Building the capacity of staff for successful implementation of programs.
Ensuring access to formal and non-formal education for inmates and ex-offenders.
Raising awareness in schools, communities and correctional facilities about criminal activities that can lead to incarceration.
Facilitating reintegration programs for ex-offenders and victims of crime.

Our core values

Respect — we value and respect every human being irrespective of their sex, status or colour, and treat them with dignity and professionalism.
Inclusiveness — our programs cater for the needs of all our clientele: inmates, ex-offenders, victims of crime and the community at large.
Accountability — we take responsibility for the well-being and development of inmates and ex-offenders, and strive to protect the community through relevant programs.
Commitment — we offer quality services by instilling hope and supporting people emotionally, psychologically and economically, and we strongly advocate deterrence of potential perpetrators.

Our history

2010 CRROA is founded by ex-offenders in Lesotho.
2012–2013 With the Irish Embassy, we raise awareness and educate inmates living with HIV/AIDS in correctional facilities.
2015 CRROA staff receive capacity building from the Ministry of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation.
2016–2017 With the Transformation Resource Centre (TRC), we monitor and advocate for inmates’ rights in correctional facilities.
2019 With LENEPHWA, we collect data on inmates living with HIV/AIDS in all correctional facilities, and sensitise police officers on International Men’s Day.
2021 We launch an initiative empowering ex-offenders through small businesses.
2022–2023 With support from OSISA, we fight Covid-19 in all 11 correctional facilities across 10 districts.
2023 International Men’s Day at Maseru Central Correctional Facility, and hygiene materials donated to correctional officers.
2024 Peer educators and a support group are trained in Butha-Buthe.
2025 An ex-prisoner receives CRROA support to start a business.

How we are organised

CRROA is governed by a Board and led by an Executive Director, supported by a Legal Advisor. A Programs Manager leads our Crime Prevention, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Officers; a Finance & Administration Manager oversees finance, administration, marketing & communication and procurement; and a Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Manager oversees M&E and data collection. In the field, Community Liaison Officers and Inmate Peer Educators carry our work into communities and correctional facilities.

Working with partners

Since our founding we have implemented our programs with support from local and international organisations — including Lesotho Correctional Service, the National AIDS Commission, the Transformation Resource Centre, UNODC, OSISA, GIZ, the Irish Embassy and VSO. We continue to work closely with our partners to achieve our goals.