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BBC 100 Women: The fearless nun inside 'hell on earth' | BBC 100 Women: The fearless nun inside 'hell on earth' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
For more than 17 years, a Catholic nun named Neyda Rojas has been serving God in a place that many describe as hell on earth - a Venezuelan prison. | For more than 17 years, a Catholic nun named Neyda Rojas has been serving God in a place that many describe as hell on earth - a Venezuelan prison. |
For decades, penitentiaries here have been criticised by human rights organisations for allowing serious human rights violations to take place behind their walls. | For decades, penitentiaries here have been criticised by human rights organisations for allowing serious human rights violations to take place behind their walls. |
Although the government has introduced reforms to improve living conditions, Venezuelan prisons are still among the most violent and overcrowded in Latin America. | Although the government has introduced reforms to improve living conditions, Venezuelan prisons are still among the most violent and overcrowded in Latin America. |
None of that has stopped this missionary, who belongs to the Mercedarian Order, help teach inmates some of the basics of life, like literacy. | None of that has stopped this missionary, who belongs to the Mercedarian Order, help teach inmates some of the basics of life, like literacy. |
"I'm very happy when they learn to read and write. I can see their excitement. | "I'm very happy when they learn to read and write. I can see their excitement. |
"It also means they can understand what official documents say about them and their trials", the 52-year-old nun said. | "It also means they can understand what official documents say about them and their trials", the 52-year-old nun said. |
'Face of God' | 'Face of God' |
"I have always seen the face of God in their faces", she said on our way to Venezuela's General Penitentiary (PGV) in Guarico state, a two-hour drive away from the capital Caracas. | "I have always seen the face of God in their faces", she said on our way to Venezuela's General Penitentiary (PGV) in Guarico state, a two-hour drive away from the capital Caracas. |
We accompanied Sister Neyda to one of her workshops after the BBC was granted rare access to the prison. | We accompanied Sister Neyda to one of her workshops after the BBC was granted rare access to the prison. |
Although the exterior of the prison is guarded by the Venezuela's National Guard and it has a prison director and staff from the Ministry of Penitentiary Affairs, effectively it's the inmates who are in charge on the inside. | Although the exterior of the prison is guarded by the Venezuela's National Guard and it has a prison director and staff from the Ministry of Penitentiary Affairs, effectively it's the inmates who are in charge on the inside. |
The prisoners have weapons, a clear leadership structure and a strict set of rules. | The prisoners have weapons, a clear leadership structure and a strict set of rules. |
Those who do not follow these rules often pay with their lives, human rights groups and former inmates say. | Those who do not follow these rules often pay with their lives, human rights groups and former inmates say. |
Overcrowding | Overcrowding |
The PGV was built to hold 750 prisoners but at the time of our visit there were around 3,000 inmates. | The PGV was built to hold 750 prisoners but at the time of our visit there were around 3,000 inmates. |
With her charisma and perseverance, Sister Neyda has won the inmates' trust. | With her charisma and perseverance, Sister Neyda has won the inmates' trust. |
It is a very dangerous and unpredictable place where violence is rife, but she walks around unafraid, as if she was untouchable. | It is a very dangerous and unpredictable place where violence is rife, but she walks around unafraid, as if she was untouchable. |
"I am sure they will never shoot me. God is with me. They will never do anything against me. In fact, they protect me", she says. | "I am sure they will never shoot me. God is with me. They will never do anything against me. In fact, they protect me", she says. |
Although she acknowledges that many of the inmates have committed serious crimes, she cannot stop seeing them as "God's children". | Although she acknowledges that many of the inmates have committed serious crimes, she cannot stop seeing them as "God's children". |
"They've lost their freedom, but not their dignity. As a Mercedarian missionary who works in a jail, I have to serve them every day." | "They've lost their freedom, but not their dignity. As a Mercedarian missionary who works in a jail, I have to serve them every day." |
When I asked her how she felt around the inmates, she touched my arm and told me with a kind smile that they were close to her heart. | |
"Many of them have been abandoned. But they have us. I am the voice of men who have no voice." | "Many of them have been abandoned. But they have us. I am the voice of men who have no voice." |
'White drop' | 'White drop' |
Two armed young inmates were guarding the entrance the day I entered the prison with Sister Neyda. | Two armed young inmates were guarding the entrance the day I entered the prison with Sister Neyda. |
"Good morning, my son, and God bless you," she said, looking them in the eyes and shaking their hands. | "Good morning, my son, and God bless you," she said, looking them in the eyes and shaking their hands. |
They replied "Amen, Sister" and waved her in, no questions asked. | They replied "Amen, Sister" and waved her in, no questions asked. |
She is known as La Gota Blanca (The White Drop) because of the colour of her nun's habit. | She is known as La Gota Blanca (The White Drop) because of the colour of her nun's habit. |
As she walks through the jail, you can hear prisoners shouting: "Put your shirts on!" | As she walks through the jail, you can hear prisoners shouting: "Put your shirts on!" |
Like lightning, every bare-backed prisoner obeys, out of respect for the visiting nun who, for years, has been part of the jail's teaching staff. | Like lightning, every bare-backed prisoner obeys, out of respect for the visiting nun who, for years, has been part of the jail's teaching staff. |
"Come and spend a nice afternoon with me. I'll expect you in the classroom," she says gently but firmly to the inmates. | "Come and spend a nice afternoon with me. I'll expect you in the classroom," she says gently but firmly to the inmates. |
Big heart | Big heart |
One prison leader, who is serving a 17-year sentence, greets her fondly. | One prison leader, who is serving a 17-year sentence, greets her fondly. |
"I used to have a tiny heart," the man told me. | "I used to have a tiny heart," the man told me. |
"But because of Sister Neyda, it's now huge. She teaches us humanity and spirituality" he said. | "But because of Sister Neyda, it's now huge. She teaches us humanity and spirituality" he said. |
At that precise moment, the noise of repeated gunfire sent a chilling reminder that we were inside a very dangerous place. | At that precise moment, the noise of repeated gunfire sent a chilling reminder that we were inside a very dangerous place. |
Sister Neyda quickly came over to reassure me and the inmate who was with us told us: "Don't worry, they're just testing their weapons. It's okay. " | Sister Neyda quickly came over to reassure me and the inmate who was with us told us: "Don't worry, they're just testing their weapons. It's okay. " |
Thanks to her appeals and intercedence, many inmates with serious illnesses have received medicines and had their sentences commuted. | Thanks to her appeals and intercedence, many inmates with serious illnesses have received medicines and had their sentences commuted. |
Sister Neyda recalls one diabetic man who had had both legs amputated and did not have a wheelchair. | Sister Neyda recalls one diabetic man who had had both legs amputated and did not have a wheelchair. |
"It was so beautiful when I was able to hand him to his family," she says. | "It was so beautiful when I was able to hand him to his family," she says. |
Tender moments | Tender moments |
She says the prison has given her the chance to feel maternal. | She says the prison has given her the chance to feel maternal. |
One of her fondest memories is the time when one of the female inmates went into labour and Sister Neyda delivered the baby. | One of her fondest memories is the time when one of the female inmates went into labour and Sister Neyda delivered the baby. |
Another time a woman handed her her baby in a shoebox. The baby girl had inherited syphilis. | Another time a woman handed her her baby in a shoebox. The baby girl had inherited syphilis. |
She also had intestinal worms and Sister Neyda had to beg doctors to help her save the baby, | She also had intestinal worms and Sister Neyda had to beg doctors to help her save the baby, |
She visited her in hospital every three hours and asked new mothers if they could breastfeed the little girl. | She visited her in hospital every three hours and asked new mothers if they could breastfeed the little girl. |
The girl is now 16 years old. She says that she has three mothers - her biological one, who died in prison, her adoptive mother and Sister Neyda. | The girl is now 16 years old. She says that she has three mothers - her biological one, who died in prison, her adoptive mother and Sister Neyda. |
But her memories of tender moments and the morning workshop she is teaching are ended abruptly when the prisoners received the order from their leaders to return to their cells. | But her memories of tender moments and the morning workshop she is teaching are ended abruptly when the prisoners received the order from their leaders to return to their cells. |
They rush back looking worried. | They rush back looking worried. |
Sister Neyda meanwhile calmly packs up her things and leaves the classroom saying "God willing, I will come back later". | Sister Neyda meanwhile calmly packs up her things and leaves the classroom saying "God willing, I will come back later". |
She did return, and no doubt will do so again. | She did return, and no doubt will do so again. |
Despite all the crime and violence inside this prison, Sister Neyda has also found respect and hope in what so many call "hell on earth". | Despite all the crime and violence inside this prison, Sister Neyda has also found respect and hope in what so many call "hell on earth". |
Our 100 Women season showcases two weeks of inspirational stories about the BBC 100 Women and others who defy stereotypes around the world. | Our 100 Women season showcases two weeks of inspirational stories about the BBC 100 Women and others who defy stereotypes around the world. |
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram using the hashtag #100Women. Listen to the programmes here. | Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram using the hashtag #100Women. Listen to the programmes here. |