In a society where the shadows of incarceration often linger long after release, the Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation (CELSIR) and Alison have forged a partnership that is quietly rewriting the story for justice-impacted individuals across Nigeria.
CELSIR, a non-profit dedicated to the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, has spent nearly three years using Alison’s Free Learning Management System (LMS). At the heart of this partnership is CELSIR’s Halfway Home in Lagos, a sanctuary where individuals are offered not just shelter, but a true second chance at life. Here, Alison’s platform delivers over 5,500 accessible free courses, ranging from anger management and self-esteem to entrepreneurship and logistics, directly supporting CELSIR’s holistic approach to rehabilitation.
For many, the journey is deeply personal. One beneficiary, once weighed down by stigma and trauma, found new strength through Alison’s anger management and self-esteem modules:
“Before joining CELSIR, I struggled with anger issues and emotional trauma from being wrongfully accused while incarcerated. The stigma associated with being justice-impacted shattered my hopes of obtaining stable employment and housing.”
Another, who discovered a passion for makeup through Alison’s vocational courses, now earns a living and teaches others, turning a skill into a source of pride and independence.
But the true impact is best measured in lives changed.
“We have seen women walk through the doors of our halfway home burdened by stigma and uncertainty, and leave with confidence and a renewed sense of purpose. Utilising the Alison platform has contributed tremendously to achieving this success. Every success affirms that reintegration is possible; with the right tools and support, anyone can rewrite their story,” said Funmi Ogunleye, Program Coordinator at CELSIR.
Alison’s Free LMS, designed to democratise skills training for organisations of all sizes, offers unlimited access to thousands of courses, rapid setup, and no cost, making it an ideal partner for non-profits like CELSIR. Through classroom-style sessions and group learning, CELSIR’s beneficiaries not only gain practical skills but also rebuild their sense of community and mutual support.
“In a world often quick to judge, CELSIR and Alison are showing that compassion, opportunity and education can break the cycle of marginalisation, permanently. That’s where transformation begins, and empowered lives take shape”, said Ciaran Cannon, VP of Global Affairs with Alison.
Looking ahead, CELSIR and Alison are committed to expanding their course offerings to include family reunification, emotional intelligence, and greater LMS utilisation, ensuring that even more individuals reclaim their futures.
Photo by Adeniji Abdullahi on Unsplash
About CELSIR:
The Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation (CELSIR) is a Nigerian non-profit committed to supporting justice-impacted individuals through holistic rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
About Alison:
Founded in 2007 as the world’s first MOOC, Alison has developed into the largest free online learning platform globally, serving over 45 million learners, including 2.2m in Nigeria. Its mission is to make education accessible to all, empowering individuals with the skills and knowledge to transform their lives and careers. Alison provides over 5,500 free, CPD-accredited courses in areas such as business, IT, healthcare, sustainability, and soft skills. The platform enables learners to gain in-demand competencies without the time or cost commitments typically associated with higher education programmes. In addition to serving individual learners, Alison now offers a free Learning Management System (LMS) for businesses, enabling employers to manage employee upskilling in-house. This development allows organisations to deliver training more efficiently without the need to send staff off-site or invest in costly tuition programmes.
