Individuals who were in prison constitute a specific population, being at risk of marginalization, with particular needs, personal, psychological and social ones: in most cases they lack essential personal and social background in regards with their new opportunities to re-enter society and to be re-integrated successfully (French & Gendreau 2006, Gisler 2018, Loesel 2012). These ‘backgrounds’ refer to an amount of knowledge and a high number of skills and competencies, such as a) ICT tools exploitation, b) life skills development, c) communication & networking ‘administration’, d) self-esteem, feelings & stress management, e) punctuality, responsibility, accountability and time management skills, f) conflict resolution skills, g) social surviving competency. Additionally, they are in need for guidance, community-based support, structured and specialized training activities adapted to their profiles and sensitivity. RECHANCE addresses primarily the individuals-former prisoners who will be educated and supported on their personal development and social entry chances through specific rehabilitation approaches and the cultivation of knowledge-skills-competencies; additionally, the educators who will undertake the role/ responsibilities of trainings (including for them the axes of coaching, mentoring, differentiated pedagogy, inclusive education/training methodologies and practices) In this context, RECHANCE is built & contextualized on the following premises: •At first, the training for the target groups of former prisoners should entail the proper use of technology, as these persons had not access to a computer or the internet (maybe for years) and they are under a disadvantageous situation when attempting to return to ‘life’: ICT use training has become a crucial piece of re-entry programs. •Rehabilitation approaches should offer the trainees new skills and new insight into life goals and motivation (e.g. self-esteem-feelings-stress management, punctuality, responsibility, accountability and time management skills, conflict resolution skills, social surviving competency) •The benefits of support and rehabilitation practices go much deeper than just job training (which is another field): during these practices, the former prisoners learn how to build their life from the beginning and away from the previous way of life, so that such practices are essential steps and lead them to re-enter society properly •Through the proper strategies and education framework, the ex- prisoners can overcome the past and at the same time enjoy a better quality of life. On the whole, RECHANCE has the following objectives: a) To provide the former prisoners with skills and knowledge which are essential for their personal development and social entrance b) To empower them with real life reflections and competencies towards their social interactions c) To foster their rehabilitation process through proper learning materials, tools and resources development d) To enhance trainers capacity on how to transmit life skills and to offer them accordingly innovative solutions and inclusive pedagogies paradigms e) To define for these trainers a clear and comprehensive training approach for tackling the diverse background and individual needs of former prisoners e) To digitize the quality learning content and ICT use as a driver for systemic change in order to increase the quality of adult education. RECHANCE objectives (as described above) fulfillment relies on the capacity the 8 partners present, that means ROMODROM, XENIOS POLIS, CENTER FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION, PRISM, PROLEPSIS, EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY CYPRUS, KNOW&CAN, SPECTRUM RESEARCH CENTRE; they cover a geographical balance of 6 countries, that means Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Bulgaria, Ireland. Their activities include intellectual outputs & multiplier events (Seminars, Final Conference) in parallel with learning/teaching activities and refer to research, scientific production & adult education methodology , innovative digital tools and dissemination strategies; the IOs comprise of the Curriculum & Learning Components Toolbox (IO1), the Training Digital Tools (IO2), and the Adaptation Guidelines Handbook (IO3). Last, RECHANCE by its completion will have had: • short-term results: former prisoners will have acquired and developed the proper- personal & social- skills for their successful re-entry and re-inclusion in the society; educators will have been empowered towards the training of this population through proper materials and tools • long-term results: former prisoners will have been better integrated in the society and will have evolved the right reflections for the continuation of their training results; additionally, educators will have been given the context for their right responses in further cases of populations at risk, and at local, national, European level.
The main project goals were the creation of an educational curriculum (IO 1), an online platform (IO 2) and adaptation guidelines (IO 3). Through these IOs the project aimed to: Provide former prisoners with skills and knowledge essential for their personal development and social reentry into society. Empower them with real-life reflections and competencies towards their social interactions. Foster their rehabilitation process through tailored learning materials, tools, and resources. Enhance trainers’ capacity how to develop life skills amongst this learner group through innovative solutions and inclusive pedagogy paradigms. Define for trainers a clear and comprehensive training approach for tackling former prisoners' diverse backgrounds and individual needs. Digitize the quality of learning content in order to increase the quality of adult education provision for this learner group.
The project focused on former prisoners, prisoners before their release and their family members. Individuals who were in prison constitute a specific population, being at risk of marginalization, with particular needs, personal, psychological and social ones. In most cases, their lack the essential personal and social background in regard to their new opportunities to re-enter society and to be re-integrated successfully. These backgrounds refer to an amount of knowledge and a high number of skills and competencies - especially soft skills and ICT skills. Additionally, they are in need of guidance, community-based support, and structured, specialised training activities adapted to their profiles and sensitivity. Rechance project addressed primarily the individuals, former prisoners, who were educated and supported on their personal development and social entry chances through specific rehabilitation approaches and the cultivation of knowledge-skills-competencies; additionally, the educators and professionals working with prisoners and formal prisoners, who undertook the role/ responsibilities of training (including for them mentoring, differentiated pedagogy, inclusive education/training methodologies and practices).