THE CHANCE FOR DIGNIFIED LIFE IN FREEDOM PROJECT

Project objectives:

а/ To assist the process of socialization of the prisoners released from the Bobov Dol prison by building professional identity that is adequate to the demand in the district and acquisition of professional qualification.

б/ Design and implementation of a special module for professional orientation and qualification of the prisoners who are to be released from prison within six months;

в/ to secure employment arrangements for the ex-offenders in the last two months of their stay in prison;

Project description:

This project was carried out with the financial assistance of the Economic and business Development – Initiative for Reintegration of Prisoners of the Open Society Foundation, New York.

With the help of the courses provided by this program we create in our clients motivation to acquire professional skills and attitudes, and job-seeking skills. The success of the program for reintegration would be even greater if during their time at the reintegration center we could offer our clients services related to their professional orientation and professional qualifications. Unfortunately, there is no possibility for employment during the time of custody. No funds are available for qualification and education courses.

We have found out that the professions, for which there is greatest demand in the municipalities of Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad, Dupnitsa and Bobov Dol are sewers, carpenters, cooks and construction workers.

The idea of this project is to design and implement a Module Program for forming social behavioral and communicative skills, and a specialized module for professional orientation and qualification of prisoners, which comprises a program for presentation of a professional profile; professional orientation and literacy courses; professional training courses for the most wanted professions in the district – sewers, carpenters, cooks and construction workers. A month ahead of their release the prisoners will be visited by employers from the enlisted municipalities, secured by our partners – the Employment Agencies in the towns of Bobov Dol, Blagoevgrad, Kyustendil and Dupnitsa. Prior to that a public awareness campaign will be organized for the community and the employers on the positive impact of the project activities. The employer will be given the chance to meet the prisoners and get acquainted with their skills. It is in the interest of the employers to offer jobs to ex prisoners, since as of January 2002 an employer who secures a full-time job for no less than 12 months to an ex offender by recommendation of the Employment Agency, within 12 months of his/her release from prison, will be granted money to cover the wages and the due social and healthcare securities for the entire period of employment.

After they have been released from prison, our clients will be visited by assistants of the Association with special training, who will offer them post-penitentiary support and help them adapt to the social environment.

Description of the target group:

Some 500 convicted offenders from the municipalities of Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad, Dupnitsa and Bobov Dol serve their sentences in the prison in Bobov Dol yearly. In the last years the age of the offenders has decreased significantly, from 35 to 25 years. Over 50% of those prisoners never had a job and entirely lack professional attitude, orientation, or experience. Other prisoners have very poor professional skills.

In the Bobov Dol prison there are more than 120 illiterate prisoners in custody every year. Illiteracy, combined with the lack of any professional qualifications, seriously impedes re-integration and the successful re-socialization of the prisoners.

Main project activities:

1. Developing a specialized module program for professional orientation and qualification of the prisoners who are to be released from prison within six months;
2. Publishing brochures, methodologies and instruction manuals for the professional orientation and consultation program;
3. Training of the program managers in professional orientation and consultation;
4. Professional orientation and consultation of the clients of the reintegration center at the Bobov Dol prison;
5. Four three-month courses for professional qualification of 60 prisoners and acquisition of profession as follows: 15 construction workers; 15 cooks; 15 carpenters, 15 sewers;
6. Development of curriculum for a six –month specialized course in reading and writing for the illiterate prisoners;
7. Supply of free course books and teacher training;
8. Literacy courses for 40 prisoners in custody in the Bobov Dol prison;
9. Organization of visits of employers to the prison in Bobov Dol;
10. Training of a team of four assistants of the Post-Penitentiary Support Association to serve the clients of the reintegration center;
11. Offering post-penitentiary support to former clients of the reintegration center.
    

PROJECT CHANCE FOR DIGNIFIED LIFE IN FREEDOM

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