Communication without borders

Communication without borders

2023-1-PL01-KA220-ADU-000156574

Project summary

The project "Communication without borders" aims to develop a training model tailored to professionals working with former prisoners. By applying Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques, developed by Rollnick and Miller, alongside coaching methods, the project aims to enhance specialists' competencies for more effective and impactful engagement with marginalised individuals. Project outputs will include a training programme, comprehensive guidelines, learning materials, and an online version of the course.

Objectives

• To develop a training model for professionals working with former prisoners, based on MI and coaching principles.

• To improve the professional, economic, and social situation of former prisoners.

Tasks

• To create guidelines and a training programme tailored to adult educators directly working with former prisoners.

• To prepare supporting materials for training delivery.

• To train six adult educators in each participating country.

• To enhance the competencies of 45 professionals working with former prisoners.

Target groups

The project's target groups are professionals working with former prisoners and the former prisoners themselves, whose professional, economic, and social circumstances are expected to improve through participation in the project.

Project duration 2023-09-01 – 2025-08-31

Project coordinator - ZACHODNIOPOMORSKIE FORUM ORGANIZACJI SOCJALNYCH "ZAFOS" (Poland)

Project partners

• FUNDACJA RESOCJALIZACJI I READAPTACJI SPOŁECZNEJ "TULIPAN" (Poland)

• Všį Žmogiškųjų išteklių stebėsenos ir plėtros biuras (Lithuania)

• Uckermärkischer Bildungsverbund gGmbH (Germany).

The project is funded by the ERASMUS+ Programme. More about the project: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552134994980

The social and professional reintegration of former prisoners is a topic of ongoing research and debate in both social and legal sciences as well as in practical fields worldwide. In EU countries, assistance systems for former prisoners involve not only prison services but also probation officers, employment agencies, social welfare institutions, and NGOs.

The aims of the study conducted within the project were to identfy issues related to communication skills and knowledge. Staff and volunteers in post-penitentiary institutions often have good intentions, yet may still hold onto negative stereotypes or biases. This limits effective cooperation and contributes to the continued marginalisation of former prisoners, exacerbating mutual antagonism and reducing the effectiveness of both social reintegration and professional activation. As a result, it may increase the risk of recidivism.

The full research report conducted by the project partners is available here:

In Lithuanian:

In English:

We invite professionals working with formers prisoners to join our online training, which combines the principles of Motivational Interviewing by Rollnick and Miller with coaching techniques.

For more information, visit (In Lithuanian):