Family as a support: convicted women met with their relatives

An "Open Day" for relatives of convicted women was held at the institution of the penal enforcement system of the Abai region. The event was aimed at providing spiritual support to those serving their sentences, as well as strengthening their social and family ties.
More than two hundred convicts looked forward to this day with special excitement and trepidation. For many of them, meeting their relatives has become a long-awaited event filled with sincere emotions. Despite the years of separation, loved ones continued to support the women, remaining their support and hope.
These meetings were especially significant for convicted mothers who, due to circumstances, were separated from their children. At the time of the meeting, the relatives could not hold back their tears: everyone tried to share the most important things, tell about their experiences during the separation and just feel each other's warmth.
As part of the event, the convicts prepared a concert program for the guests. Songs were sung from the stage, national dances were performed, as well as cui on dombra. The atmosphere was filled with sincerity, warmth and a sense of unity.
The most touching moment of the event was the meeting of a mother with her little son.
A 28-year-old resident of Pavlodar is serving a four-year sentence for fraud. She was imprisoned when her son was just four months old.
When the woman saw her child, she couldn't hold back her tears. She held him in her arms for a long time, as if trying to make up for lost years and fearing the impending separation. This moment deeply touched everyone present.
— The biggest pain in my life is the realization that I have deprived myself of the opportunity to be with my son. I missed his first steps, his first words, and I didn't see him grow up.… And it's impossible to get it back. Every day I think about him, I imagine how he laughs, how he reaches out to me, how he calls me mom. When I talk to my loved ones, I ask them everything about him, down to the smallest detail, so that I can at least mentally be with them. Today, hugging him, I felt how much I needed him and how much I was to blame for him. I'm very sorry for what I did. Now I have only one goal — to return home, hug my child forever and become a real mother for him, whom he can be proud of," the convict shared.
— Such meetings have a positive impact on convicts. The opportunity to see their loved ones, communicate personally, and feel the support of their family helps them realize their connection to society. This strengthens their emotional state and strengthens their desire to improve, return to a full-fledged life in the family and society," said Akmaral Kairanova, deputy head of the institution. Such events play an important role in the process of re-socialization.: