As a result of Dr Adarves-Yorno’s work the Mindful Leader training has been incorporated into Naivasha prison’s formal education programme, supported by a small team of staff. The original 80 participants meet on a weekly basis and a further 80 trainees attend full and part time classes. Meetings and classes are coordinated by a core group of Mindful leaders. The University of Exeter Business School provides materials and equipment facilitated by the Africa Prisons Project. The impact of the intervention can be seen at individual, group and institutional levels, and is starting to manifest in wider society.

At an individual level the Mindful leader training has transformed the lives of many participants. Prisoners with long, life, and death sentences consistently describe their experiences of using the techniques as part of a process of change that has enabled them to:

• Forgive themselves and others
• Manage emotions such as fear and anger
• Feel less rejection, hostility, fear and loneliness
• Reduce their levels of stress
• Accept their situation and let go of what they can’t change
• Understand themselves and others
• Reflect before acting
• Stop using drugs
• Become more resilient
• Become a mentor or role model to help others
• Adopt and express positive as opposed to negative attitudes

At group level participants commonly talk about improved relationships with their fellow inmates, more harmonious organisation of daily chores and easier conflict resolution. They describe passing on the techniques to other prisoners, some of whom enrol in the training. The Mindful leader groups are developing a learners’ manual and members have written and shared poems and songs. Participants consistently describe belonging to the group as “very important” in their lives.

At an institutional level Mindful leaders report improved relationships with prison staff and greater cooperation with the prison regime, as a result of accepting their situation. Prison officers working with the group concur with this and also report using the practices with good effect. Examples of Mindful leaders working to support others within the institution include an individual initiative to work with prisoners affected by HIV&AIDS, and eight Mindful leaders who participate in the Africa Prisons Project para-legal programme.

In wider society: Several Mindful leaders report passing on stress reduction techniques to their families. One man sold land to enable his wife to repay a loan and avoid arrest and attributes his decision to Mindful leader training. A number of participants brought up the importance of the training to people outside prison and several said that they intend to teach the practices in their communities on their release. The interviews indicate that the Mindful Leader training is already having an impact in wider society, and has the potential for widening spirals of change.