Akosua Akuffo

Lusaka, Zambia

Kaumba Akosua Akuffo is a passionate and enthusiastic human rights advocate who focuses on the reintegration of formerly incarcerated women.

Her passion is derived from her own imprisonment, as she spent months in a correctional facility because of a drug addiction she had for over 10 years.

She is the Co-founder and Chief executive officer of an organisation called Tithandizane Comfort Homes that was registered to create agricultural entrepreneurship skills training for formerly imprisoned women as well as advocate for positive change in the justice system.

She currently facilitated the training of twelve formerly imprisoned women in digital literacy, entrepreneurship and poultry farming. The outstanding participants are given seed grants.

She is also the lead in an Advocacy Campaign called Free her, advancing alongside other CSO’s for women with minor cases to be given non custodial sentences through community service for five years and below sentences.

She is also part of the International Network of Formerly Incarcerated Women where she is part of the economic empowerment and changing the narrative work team, which works to source funding for all the organisations in there network.

In 2024 she attended a conference in Athens, Greece at a conference organised by the International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance abusers and is currently working to set up a network called Zambia network of people who use drugs in order to help reduce the harm created by abusing substances and prevent women from entering correctional facilities.

Kaumba Akosua Akuffo is also one of the founders of Formerly Incarcerated Women Africa, which was recently registered to unite organisations that are working too improve the justice system for women in Africa. FIW currently comprises of women from Zambia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone.

“To me a fair and effective criminal justice system is one that has quick and effective access to justice, and has imprisonment as a last and not a first resort.

A society that does not discriminate against formerly incarcerated people but helps them live with dignity and accords them a second chance to start their lives over. ”

Alina Sheyan

Kazakhstan

My professional background is mainly focused on business development, strategic planning and customer service. Life is truly amazing and sometimes the twists and turns of fate are very unexpected, but I believe that every stage of life deserves gratitude for the experience and knowledge gained.

Difficult moments teach us to separate important things from the routine and to highlight what needs to be preserved and developed and I guess for a strategist this is a very good skill. I am very enthusiastic about the possibilities of online reality, which nowadays opens up a whole world.

Today, at the age of 42, I think that each of us, regardless of age and past mistakes, has many new achievements and paths waiting at our fingertips.

“For me, a fair and effective criminal justice system looks first and foremost like an environment that allows a person to realise their mistake and fundamentally change the attitude towards coexistence with others in the community. It cannot be limited to punishment alone, it will never be effective enough without positive motivation.

The system should be about improving the person, but not making them worse, which unfortunately is often the case. Society will not benefit if people come back from imprisonment with a fractured spirit or heightened resentment.

It is difficult and it does not always seem fair, but society should also care for those citizens who have made a mistake. ”

Damien Quinn

Ireland

Damien is the founder of Spéire Nua (New Horizon) which is an award-winning social enterprise start-up based on his personal journey through the criminal justice system.

He has developed a new Strengths Based Model of Disclosure to support people exiting a life of crime in their search for opportunities and provides educational services to all prisons in Ireland. 

Damien also works with Galway Rural Development as their Assistant Team Leader on the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme supporting people experiencing disadvantage.  He is also an Assistant Lecturer in The Technological University of The Shannon in areas of Community Development, Social Enterprise and Innovation, Community Youth Work and Not for Profit Theory and Practice.    

“An effective criminal justice system would remove the word criminal and focus on justice more broadly – an idea shared by Leader and friend Gethin Jones.

It would eradicate the secondary punishment that people have to live with after being convicted. It would work with the community to create appropriate restorative programmes that benefit both the victim and perpetrator of crime in a more holistic way. It would use Community sanctions far more effectively and would provide opportunities for people to become educated, to retrain and be assisted in their efforts to contribute to society post release. ”

Kam Stevens

UK

Kam Stevens, FRSA, is a prison reform advocate, filmmaker and Senior Digital Consultant for Grow Transform Belong, whose journey from imprisonment to leadership exemplifies resilience and transformation.

After overcoming challenges during his youth, Kam earned a BA (Hons) in Film and Media Arts Production from University Centre Weston as a mature student, where he was named Higher Education Student of the Year 2023/24 by the Association of Colleges, as well as Creative student of the year 2024 UCW.

He has collaborated with senior prison leaders, playing a key role in cultural transformation, The Growth Project.

As co-founder and Director of the Growth App, Kam is part of a pioneering team that have created a digital solution that empowers individuals to reintegrate successfully into society.

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), he continues to inspire through advocacy, public speaking, and leadership in digital work programmes.

“A fair and effective criminal justice system prioritises rehabilitation over punishment, addressing the root causes of offending through education, mental health support, and employment opportunities. It involves a whole-system approach, including families and victims, holding institutions accountable while promoting equity and second chances. ”