From mistakes to milestones: A journey of redemption
Source: Shuruthi Laya
“I hope that I can inspire others by sharing my transformation journey,” says Safari Bin Ahmad, 57, a reformed offender. He is now working at Industrial and Services Co-operative Society (ISCOS), an organisation supporting ex-offenders and their families with reintegrating into society.
At 11, Safari ran away from home and started living with his friends who influenced him to choose the wrong path. He was involved in a gang and engaged in several illegal activities, including consuming drugs. “Whatever they did, I followed. I had a choice, but I wanted to be like them,” Safari reflected.
Source: Safari Bin Ahmad
Safari’s incarceration journey began in his teenage years. At 17, he entered prison for the first time for substance abuse. Since then, Safari had been in and out of prison for various crimes such as committing robbery, being involved in a secret society, and consuming and trafficking drugs from 1984 to 2016. Safari was released from his last sentence in 2016, at 49 years old.
Every time Safari was released from prison, he would return to his old habits and engage in illegal activities with his gang. “I knew that this lifestyle would lead me back to prison. But this was my sense of identity, I wanted to be like this.”
With every incarceration, Safari’s mum was hit the hardest. She would come to visit him regularly until the day she passed. “My mom was my motivator,” he shared emotionally.
Safari mentioned that his last sentence took a toll on his mum’s health. He knew that drugs destroyed lives but he never expected that his actions would affect the people around him as well, till his mum fell ill. “That was when I decided to change. I didn’t want to go back to prison anymore.”
However, the change wasn’t easy. Spending the formative years of his life in prison, Safari has always had a negative mindset which often led to making the wrong decisions. Firstly, he had to adapt to a more positive mindset.
It wasn’t too long before Safari realised that there were bigger challenges ahead. Going back to his family was no easy task. “My brother understood my situation and supported me. But his children did not understand me and judged me for my past. They were not ready to welcome me into their home,” he said. Regardless, Safari continued to remain optimistic and focused on moving forward in life.
“I grew up in prison. ‘You like prison food so much ah?’, my father used to say. That made me regret wasting so many years of my life in prison.” Safari wanted to ensure that he wouldn’t relapse into his old habits again. So, he started to cut off friends who were a negative influence on him.
Safari was first introduced to ISCOS through an outreach they conducted in prison during his last sentence. After his release in 2016, he joined the ISCOS member’s support group and continues to attend the monthly sessions till today.
Upon his release, Safari also took up a course and started his career in the food and beverage industry. He was working as the restaurant manager at Privé. However, something triggered in him that this was not where he was meant to be. He then turned to ISCOS for career guidance. “I recall leaving the ISCOS office that day with a strong feeling that things would be different this time.”
Since then, he has found purpose in his life, happy to be able to make a positive impact in the lives of ex-offenders. Safari decided to join ISCOS as a titan in 2021. As an ISCOS Titan, he facilitates correctional and reintegration programmes for prison inmates and ex-offenders, as well as the ISCOS and Selarang support groups.
Source: ISCOS
Safari explaining about Desistor Network in an event.
Safari is also the cafe manager of the newly opened cafe cum community space, Just BrewIN, which is run by ISCOS. He oversees the daily operations of the cafe, including preparing the food and providing good customer service.
Source: Shuruthi Laya
Safari preparing coffee in Just BrewIN.
On top of that, Safari also shares his personal experience and transformation journey at halfway houses, schools, and community events, educating youths at-risk and the members of the public on the negative repercussions of drugs and other misdeeds.
Source: ISCOS
Safari sharing his personal journey in an event by ISCOS.
By sharing his journey and lessons learnt, Safari hopes to inspire others and become a beacon of change. “Now, I want to help other offenders to reform and lead a purposeful life.”
Through his sharing, Safari gives hope to other family members of offenders that their lives can change for the better and that their loved ones can break the cycle of intergenerational offending. He also reassures other ex-offenders of a better life out of prison, motivating them to focus on leading a positive life.
He emphasises the importance of having a stable job to provide for oneself and their family. “You can't change your lifestyle without a stable job," he added.
Source: Shuruthi Laya
Looking back at how far he has come, Safari feels extremely content and proud. Like himself, Safari believes that every individual deserves a second chance in life and urges the public to be more accepting of individuals who are trying their best to regain a foothold in society.
He also encourages reformed offenders to continue to upgrade themselves until they achieve their goals in life. “Don't give up. Don't give up on changing and don't let go of the people that are supporting you.”
