The general aim was to develop a training methodology framework in order to promote social inclusion of the young ex/offenders who are in the double disadvantaged groups, by contributing to creating inclusive and innovative spiritual counselling environments that foster equity and equality, and that are responsive to the needs of the wider community. The specific objectives were identified as; SO1: Executing field analysis to examine the studies conducted in partner countries on the spiritual counselling services provided to young people who have committed crimes. SO2: Collecting a set of good examples of Spiritual Counseling Methods (SCM) in European prisons as well as other educational bodies dealing with young ex-offender education to make a base for creating a science-based transnational SCM. SO3: Developing an applicable science-based methodological framework (together with its tools) on SCMs in prison and in probation institution context to promote social inclusion and to aim at improving the spiritual counseling services for young prisoners. SO4: Preparing an open-access learning tool for young ex/prisoners and professionals working with them to share and promote the results of the project.
The increasing number of crimes and criminals among the young ex-offenders told us that different types of mechanisms should be used more effectively and intensively because young ex/prisoners had to cope with many emotions such as helplessness, hopelessness, loneliness, deprivation and separation. We based the project on this main need that spiritual counseling and guidance (SCG) services are offered for them. The searched studies emphasized that offenders, especially young people need more moral support and more tools to put their life back on track in their lives no matter what their belief system/religion is. However, we identified several barriers; the lack of qualified staff providing SCG, the incompatibility of the curriculum/training methodology; psychological and cognitive level of the target group, the lack of materials. Besides the current SCG applications identified during the pre-need analysis phase were mostly based on subjective/religion based methods shaped by the main belief system of the relevant country/community. Therefore the partners decided to submit this project to create a science based SCG at European level based on good practices and lessons learnt during the process.