145th International Training Course
Mrs. Obondi, Christine Achieng’ Okoth
Senior Assistant Director
Probation and Aftercare Service
Office of the Vice President andMinistry of Home Affairs,Kenya.
On behalf of my fellow participants, allow me to express our most profound and sincere
gratitude for having been granted the opportunity to participate in this 145th International
Training Course.
The theme of the 145th International Training Course, “Effective Resettlement ofOffenders by Strengthening ‘Community Reintegration Factors’”, has been explicitly
articulated through the course content, individual presentations, lectures by both the local
Japanese experts and the international visiting experts and observation visits to related criminal
justice agencies.
This vividly took us through the entire criminal justice process, the organization, thesystem and partnerships, with special reference to effective resettlement of offenders andstrengthening reintegration factors. We all benefited from the well coordinated group discussions
and plenary sessions, this enriched our learning process.
The objective of this training program, which was to have all participants share therespective challenges to be tackled based on the latest trends and experience on the effective
resettlement of offenders by strengthening community reintegration factors and to establish a
global network for the exchange of updated information on the practice of the respective
countries, has been achieved.

Indeed this has been a timely and worthwhile course!
We will forever remain indebted.

The interludes provided through the Course, that is, the planned visits to Japanesefamilies, the sumo tournament, the traditional tea ceremony, and the institutions, historic citiesand sites we saw will forever be a permanent mark in each of our lives. In particular we wish tonote the courtesy call and interaction with the honorable Minster of Justice and the party hosted
by the honorable Vice-Minister of Justice. We cannot forget to mention the visit by theparliamentary secretary for Justice who graced one of our sessions; we feel honored.

We have also enjoyed the rare and unique hospitality embedded in Japan’s rich culturalheritage. This surrounded our daily individual and group interactions with each other and theinstitutions we visited. Indeed, as we prepare to depart back to our countries, this is reflected in
all participants, particularly: “Hospitality; Japanese Style!”

Very special thanks and acknowledgment go to JICA as well as the ACPF for theircooperation, which supported every activity; indeed without them we would not be here today.

Last but certainly not least, we wish to applaud the exemplary teamwork displayed by thestaff in UNAFEI; from the administration, to accommodation and kitchen staff. Thank you verymuch.

In conclusion, on behalf of my fellow participants, I would like to assure you that thechallenge remains with us and we hereby confirm that we are now more empowered and equal tothe challenge. As individual participants we will endeavor to translate this rich learning
experience to reality by firstly remain proactive in those recommendations that we as individuals
can realistically adopt and sustain; and secondly reporting back to our organizations andcountries the recommendations of this very noble international training programme.

Together, let us strive to uphold:“PROSPERITY WITHOUT CRIME IN THE WORLD”

LONG LIVE…………..UNAFEILONG LIVE ………….ACPF
LONG LIVE………….JICA
Thank you!