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www.vpu.lt/socpedagogika/crossroad

Vilnius Pedagogical University,
Studentu str. 39, LT – 08106 Vilnius
Tel./fax +370 5 2607783
El.paštas: renata.katinaite@vpu.lt

Other national partners:

1. Vilnius Labour Exchange
2. Lukiškės Inquisition Ward Prison
3. Modern Didactics Centre
4. CRIS Vilnius

DP Budget:

Action 1 Budget – 82.252 Lt
Action 2 Budget – 1.014.970 Lt

The target group of DC “Crossroad: Coalition for Strengthening Equal Possibilities in the Labour Market” consists of persons imprisoned in Lithuanian institutions and having up to one year left to finish their sentence period. This group embraces a wider circle of smaller target groups, including individuals of different genders, age groups as well as drug addicts and persons belonging to national or sexual minorities.

The aim of DC „Crossroad: Coalition for Strengthening Equal Possibilities in the Labour Market” is to develop an innovatory integration/reintegration system model for convicts and former convicts by adapting good practice of other countries; the model developed is supposed to provide preparedness for such persons to be involved in the labour market and to strive that the discriminated groups of individuals become equally competent labour force as well as to assure accessibility of useful information.

Goals:

1. Developing a teaching model for convicted persons to be applied during sentence period and afterwards. This model would embrace education of the said groups and development of social skills including parenthood and working skills as well as dissemination of information about labour market and related possibilities.
2. Provision of specialist training at various institutions (including labour exchange specialists, social workers at municipalities, and Vilnius representatives of the Cris Association), who could work with target group individuals.
3. Testing the developed model at Lukiškės Inquisition Ward – Prison in order to apply intelligence products developed through DC „Crossroad: Coalition for Strengthening Equal Possibilities in the Labour Market” in practice. Disclosing the advantages and drawbacks of the model by involving evaluation of same target group members and DC „Crossroad: Coalition for Strengthening Equal Possibilities in the Labour Market” partners, thus enabling possibilities to improve the model and maximising its efficiency.
4. Dissemination of project results in other regions paying special attention to the ones that have penitentiary institutions. To perform dissemination activities, a special poster advertising DC „Crossroad: Coalition for Strengthening Equal Possibilities in the Labour Market” activities has been designed, as well as an information brochure, media articles and reports.

Innovation:

DC „Crossroads: Coalition for Strengthening Equal Possibilities in the Labour Market“ is innovative organization structure in Lithuania. It will join several organizations with different potential and working in different spheres to seek one common goal and results. Innovation of DP activity is that it will not be only conducted on the outside, but also inside and the focus will be put on work with imprisoned persons. The experience of transnational partners will be adapted. These innovations are to be achieved:

• Innovations oriented to process:

New methods of integrating/reintegrating ex-prisoners into competitive labour market are to be created and the existing methods are to be improved. Preparation of teaching material for the specialists working with target group.

• Innovations oriented to goals:

Preparation of qualified specialists competent to work with prisoners/ex-prisoners. Testing and improvement of modules of informing, motivating to live in freedom, adaptation to the competitive labour market requirements.

• Innovations oriented to context:

Successfully tested module is implemented throughout all country territory with a special focus on regions where the imprisonment institutions are situated. Not only local or regional, but also international institutional cooperation network will be established. The information will be spread in order to positively change the attitude of employers and society towards the target group.

Activities:

During the second stage of the project – 2005-06-01 – 2007-11-30 – The sociological research on studying needs of main project target group – inmates of Lukiškės inquisition ward prison who have less than one year left before release. According to the results of sociological research the teaching program and method material will be prepared for the specialists from partner institutions and other organizations (Vilnius Labour Exchange, social workers of municipalities, representatives of Cris Vilnius). The innovative model will be integrated into work of other institutions who have same interests and are able to implement the experience of DC „Crossroads: Coalition for Strengthening Equal Possibilities in the Labour Market“. Dissemination of information on project experience will be implemented through media: cycle of TV programs, social commercial on TV and radio, articles in the newspapers and also DC internet website.

Planned results:

Created teaching program tested in Lukiškės inquisition ward prison.
Specialists from different institutions (social workers of labour exchange, social workers of municipalities, representatives of association Cris Vilnius, representatives of other NGO’s) qualified to work with target group.
The handbook for life in freedom for target group published.
Dissemination of information on the program created during the project (TV programs, articles in press, internet database, conference).

DC „Crossroads: Coalition for Strengthening Equal Possibilities in the Labour Market“ is expecting to achieve positive results in identification of the social risk group problems and preparing analysis of the needs that would make the integration/reintegration process would be more efficient. In order to improve occupation of target group the trainings, vocational orientation and counselling will be conducted. 10-15 specialists from different institutions (labour exchange, municipalities, KRIS Vilnius) will be trained to work with prisoners/exprisoners. One of the sought results- positively changed attitude of employers and society towards socially vulnerable target group, the growth of adequate tolerance and ensuring equal possibilities for integrating into labour market.
DC „Crossroads: Coalition for Strengthening Equal Possibilities in the Labour Market“ created activity model tested in Lukiškės inquisition ward prison.
Informational handbook with information on prisoner’s/ ex-prisoner’s rights and possibilities and where they can get help for the target group published.

Maximal prisoners/ ex-prisoners social adaptability in society and reintegration into competitive labour market of the country is aimed.

„Open Windows“

DPs involved

Netherlands

Utrechtse Held

Czech Republic

Coalition Chance

France

ANCRE

Italy

P. M. DI SCENA

Lithuania

“Crossroad: Coalition for Strengthening Equal Possibilities in the Labour Market”

Activities:

• Steering committee meeting, Vilnius, March 2006;
• Workshop “The process of integration into labour market” Vilnius, March 2006;
• European Magazine working group (not decided yet);
• European Magazine working group , Bordeaux, September 2006;
• Steering committee meeting, Prague, October 2006;
• First publishing of European Magazine, Bordeaux, December 2006.
• Workshop on gender and ethnic minorities discrimination issues, Prague, January-February 2007;
• Steering committee meeting, Bologna or Firenze, March-April 2007;
• Third work group on European Magazine, Bologna or Firenze, March-April 2007;
• Second publishing of European Magazine, Bordeaux, September 2007;
• Steering committee meeting, Bordeaux, September 2007;
• European Conference, Bordeaux, November-December 2007.

Planned results:

• Transnational internet website – created by all partners;
• Thematic workshops - Lithuanian development partnership will organize one thematic workshop if needed. Other partners’ workshops will be attended by representatives of development partnership;
• European Magazine – the material prepared by prisoners will be provided;
• Work/study visits – visiting partners;
• European conference – participation and reports;
• Transnational coordination - participation in steering committee meetings.