The goal of the SOCVOC project was to introduce lasting and positive changes in inmate education, preparing them for life after leaving prison. By developing their social and vocational skills, we aimed to create innovative materials accessible to educators working with socially excluded individuals, particularly in prison environments. Our main objectives included: 1. Equipping imprisoned individuals with skills that facilitate their reintegration into society, such as effective communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork. 2. Enhancing practical vocational skills to improve inmates' chances of finding employment after serving their sentences. The developed teaching materials were specifically adapted to the unique context of prison education. 3. Making the created materials available as open educational resources to promote effective teaching methods in penal units and enable their use across Europe. 4. Encouraging the exchange of best practices among educators, fostering a community of practitioners, and promoting values such as diversity, equality, and social inclusion.
The main reason for implementing the project was the need to introduce changes in the education system for inmates, aimed at effective social rehabilitation and preparing them for reintegration into society. We observed that individuals deprived of freedom often lack access to educational tools tailored to their specific needs. As a result, they leave penal facilities without the essential skills needed to function in a dynamically changing social and professional environment. Inmates struggle not only with the absence of specific vocational skills but also with limited social competencies, which are crucial in the job market and everyday life. They often face difficulties in communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork. The lack of these skills poses a significant barrier to their social reintegration, as well as to finding and maintaining employment after serving their sentence. Our project aimed to bridge this gap by developing an educational program based on two main pillars: enhancing social skills and acquiring professional competencies. Through the project, we intended to create innovative teaching materials that support prison educators.