Torino - Italy

Peer-learning for future freedom

A new approach to strengthening communication skills and responsible citizenship of convicts in prison

Consorzio OPEN developed and tested a 40 hours training module for prison inmates to strengthen their citizenship skills. This includes general literacy, IT literacy, awareness of environmental protection in everyday life, but in front of all communication skills. Practical exercises for communication in various situations, including in formal contexts such as at the workplace, was therefore an important element oft the training. Most activities were set up as peer-to-peer and group work, where the learning was going to be achieved not through instruction by a teacher but through actual doing as well as self-reflection. The teachers’ role was to facility the process. Teams were always set up in a way to make use of the diversity of the overall group.

The MobileBE team approaching Torino prison for a study visit in Jan. 2020. Foto. Ch. Geiselmann

A full report on this experimental course is published in our book "New Ideas to Promote Literacy".