Support instead of Writing Off: Education in Prisons and about Prisons

Project facts

Project promoter:
Signed Hands(LT)
Project Number:
LT-ACTIVECITIZENS-0094
Status:
Completed
Final project cost:
€13,589
Other Project Partners
Alytus university of Applied Sciences(LT)
The Union of Prisoners(LT)
Programme:

Description

The project “Support instead of Writing Off: Education in Prisons and about Prisons” by using means of education, seeks to minimize recidivism by empowering prisoners and minimizing social exclusion experienced by them. The target group: people serving a sentence in a prison. In order for a person to successfully reenter society, it is important already during their sentence to obtain the needed tools for successful integration. One of the most meaningful tools - (in)formal education. The project will seek to solve three problems related to education: the lack of higher education in prisons, the lack of knowledge about their rights among inmates and the lack of space to express those rights, as well as the lack of positive representation of prisoners in society. These problems keep inmates away from changing for the better, and, later, from successful integration into society. Thus, during this project, inmates will be empowered in three ways: by finishing a course from ALYTAUS KOLEGIJA/University of Applied Sciences, by informing themselves about their rights and learning how to defend them, as well as by being a part of a team creating a magazine about prisoners, that is meant to be read by people outside of prison. These empowering and informative activities will help inmates to reenter society more successfully, while at the same time it will make society more understanding and accepting. Presumably, this is going to minimize the risk of recidivism for project participants.

Summary of project results

The project aimed to reduce recidivism in Lithuania by addressing three existing problems: the lack of access to higher education in prisons, the lack of knowledge of one''s rights and the lack of space to express one''s needs, and thirdly, the lack of a positive representation of convicted persons in the public sphere.

This project was needed to reduce re-offending, empower prisoners through education and reduce the social divide between them and society. The project activities included courses organized by Alytus University of Applied Sciences in Alytus Prison, creative workshops in prisons, two publications, advocacy trainings in prisons, presentations of the publications to the society, and a podcast.

The project results include 52 academic hours of training in Alytus Prison, 25 non-formal education sessions in prisons, 5 educational events in different prisons, public presentations in 5 cities, 500 printed publications, 6 educational videos and a podcast. Almost 100 prisoners participated in the project activities and improved their knowledge and skills. The project also benefits society by reducing the social divide between different groups of the society.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.