On November 26, 2025, the World Solidarity for the Underprivileged and Prisoners (SMPDD), in partnership with Semlex For Education, inaugurated the new library of the Kpalimé Civil Prison. This initiative marks a major breakthrough in expanding access to education for incarcerated individuals by providing them with a dedicated space for reading, learning, and personal rebuilding.
An Inauguration Marked by Collective Commitment
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the city council, the public prosecutor, the prison administration, the canton chief, and the head of the police department. Prison staff and several institutional partners were also present to show their support for this socially impactful project.
The Prison Administrator emphasized that this library is fully integrated into the educational and cultural activities offered to the 450 detainees, including about a dozen women. It complements existing programs by providing a calm, structured space conducive to intellectual development.
A Project Centered on Rehabilitation
The SMPDD coordinator recalled the project’s objectives: to make education a key driver of reintegration and to provide detainees with the tools they need to prepare for their future with confidence.
For his part, the representative of Semlex For Education shared a video message reaffirming the importance of knowledge as a tool for transformation and rehabilitation.
A particularly symbolic moment marked the ceremony: the reading of a literary excerpt by an inmate, illustrating the direct impact that access to culture can have. The ribbon-cutting, followed by a guided tour, showcased a space richly equipped with school textbooks, literary works, and personal development books.
A Place That Goes Beyond a Simple Library
More than just a reading space, this library embodies a vision: that of sustainable, supported, and humane reintegration. It reflects the shared commitment of SMPDD, Semlex For Education, and the Directorate of Prison Administration and Reintegration (DAPR) to place education at the heart of social change.
By providing detainees with a stimulating environment, this project helps strengthen their skills, nurture their curiosity, and open new perspectives for their reintegration into society.
Semlex For Education: A Renewed Commitment
True to its mission of promoting access to knowledge for all, Semlex For Education reaffirms through this partnership its commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and making education a powerful tool for empowerment and rehabilitation.
This library is more than just an infrastructure: it is a symbol of hope, equity, and a better future.
