A Time of Plenty?

What do you think about at this time of year? Perhaps the long lists of gifts you need to buy, organising the family get together or just hunkering down and avoiding the madness.

For Christians, Christmas is when we celebrate the person of Jesus Christ coming into our world. He came and was willing to get stuck in with the painful mess of humanity. Jesus loved the unlovable. Regardless of somebody’s past He said I can help.

At Integritas, we are motivated by Jesus’ love and His example to treat our neighbour as ourselves.  We have a particular concern for the 11 million of our fellow human beings currently behind bars across the world. Many of these people are kept in terrible conditions, without adequate food or healthcare and do not know when they will next see their loved ones. Regardless of their past actions, we believe they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Like many other charities, the pandemic has taken its toll on Integritas. We have lost many of our main sources of funding and this has directly impacted the work we are able to carry out. This festive season we are asking you to help us help those most in need across our world. Any donation will go a long way to provide healthcare to vulnerable men and women behind bars.

So perhaps this year, as it is for me, will be the first year you think about the world’s detainees, those forgotten and abandoned in unthinkable conditions. There is a great need and we can work together to show radical love to one another.

If you would like more details on partnering with Integritas please do get in touch. Any donation would be gratefully received and would make a huge impact on the work we are able to do.

Click here to donate.

The Importance of Masks

We all know that a properly-fitted mask reduces your risk of COVID-19; ensuring there are no gaps around your nose, chin, or at the sides of your face protects everyone during this pandemic. This is especially true for detainees, who are at higher risk of becoming infected. Firstly they live in closed systems, often in shared cells, making it harder to social distance. There are higher rates of physical co-morbidity and mental health diagnoses in prisoners, which is further compounded by having limited access to healthcare. If you are entering a secure environment, please ensure your mask is worn correctly, use an alternative to shaking hands, implement good hand hygiene, and practice social distancing.

Integritas serves the physical, social and spiritual needs of detainees held within police stations in Olongapo City and the surrounding Zambales region of the Philippines. We ensure we abide to WHO guidelines for safe practices during the COVID-19 pandemic while we do so. We have only been able to do this with our supporters’ generous donations. If you would like to know more about our work during COVID-19 please visit our donation page and consider supporting our work.