The penitentiaries in Romania and Serbia have two very important missions – to ensure custody of incarcerated persons and to support the social reintegration of inmates. The reintegration of former inmates, especially on the labour market, is difficult in the cross border area on one hand due to lack of jobs, very low salaries and mainly discrimination upon employment. This project envisages to prove practical knowledge and skills to the inmates by a non-formal education program in the area of producing dry fruit, vegetables, herbs, and medicinal plants. By this project, we are increasing the chance of inmates to become small agriculture producers. At the same time, by organizing two events of promoting employment chance equality concerning former convicts, we want to draw the attention of the local community and business environment in that area on the importance of that aspect for diminishing the recidivism and increasing the safety of communities.
Cooperation beyond borders.
About project
The challenge
The objective
The project has the main objective of supporting the increase of social inclusion chances of inmates incarcerated in Timisoara Penitentiary and Pancevo Penitentiary by acquiring knowledge and skills for producing and selling dry herbs and medicinal plants, fruit and vegetables.
Within the project, the staff of the social reintegration area from the two penitentiaries and an expert of the coordinating organization developed in common an educational program on drying medicinal plants and herbs, fruits and vegetables and selling them. By using that educational program, in the two penitentiaries training sessions were organized for 20 inmates, for one month of theory teaching (12 sessions, 3 per week) and the practical part of two months (frequency 2 days per week). The program contain also information on opening a small business in that field. During the practicum, the convicts engaged in drying and packing the produce, including by the use of industrial equipment specific to that procedure, in the workshops arranged and endowed for that within the project.
The approach
The project used the experience exchange between partners. CPIP is the partner holding the biggest experience in implementing European projects in the educational area and Timisoara Penitentiary is well experienced in developing and implementing educational programs meant for the inmates. As well, Timisoara Penitentiary is first when it comes to involving Romanian inmates for work-related purposes. Pancevo Penitentiary brings the general experience of Voivodina population concerning the making of dry produce, vegetable combinations, as well as the experience of the area in developing small agriculture activities. The border area inhbaitants mainly develops agriculture activities, with several small independent producers that never went through the collectivization process as the Romanians did.
This project is financed by the European Union under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistence (IPA II) and co-financed by the partner states in the Programme.
The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. In case of any complaints, contact: romania-serbia@mdrap.ro www.romania-serbia.net
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