A new chance for social inclusion of inmates 

Project number: RORS10

Implementation period: 2017 – 2018

Action type: Interreg – IPA CBC Romania – Serbia

The strategic partnership consists of three partners from two countries: Timişoara Penitentiary (Romania), the Center for Promoting Lifelong Learning (Romania), and Pancevo Penitentiary (Republic of Serbia).

The project aims to increase the chances of former people in detention reintegrating into the labor market by acquiring knowledge and practical skills through a non-formal education program in the field of dried fruit, vegetable, and medicinal plant production. This project increases the chances of people in detention becoming small-scale agricultural producers, and by organizing two events to promote equal opportunities in the workplace for former convicts, we are involving the local community and the business environment in the broader process of reducing recidivism and increasing community safety. The specific objectives of the project are:

1. Supporting the social inclusion of people who have been sentenced in Timișoara Penitentiary and Pancevo Penitentiary by acquiring knowledge and skills for the production and sale of dried herbs, medicinal plants, fruits, and vegetables.
2. Social reintegration specialists from the two penitentiaries and an expert from the coordinating organization developed an educational program on drying medicinal plants and herbs, fruits, and vegetables and selling them.
3. Through the implementation of this educational program, training sessions were organized in the two prisons for 20 people in detention each, consisting of one month of theoretical teaching (12 sessions, 3 per week) and a two-month practical part (2 days per week).
4. The program also included information on starting a small business in this field. During the practical training, people in detention were involved in drying and packaging products, including using industrial equipment specific to this procedure, in workshops set up and equipped as part of the project.

A video inspired by the project can be accessed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbnZICEEHjc

Results achieved:

• 1 educational programme implemented (English, Romanian, and Serbian).
• 30 participants with increased knowledge on equality of chances for ex-inmate employment.
• 2 adequate modular units for workshops in use.
• 2 fully equipped, functional fruit and vegetable drying and packing workshops in use.
• 1 small cargo utility vehicle purchased.