Workshops with Prison Employees, Police and young Roma Prisoners in Romania

The 5 Workshops with Police and Prison employees and young Roma prisoners (D 4.6) were organized by the West University of Timisoara in Buzias city, at the headquarters of the Educational Center for Delinquent Minors, daily, from 17 to 21 June 2019.

The workshops were part of the “Common Spaces in Prison Program” – 2019, organized within the project.

The main topics approached within the meetings were:

– Stereotypes – identifying the “thinking traps”;

– Resiliency: Resilient relationships and communication;

– Positive attitudes and behaviors: the “compass” of values, talents and the force “quartet”;

– Citizenship: Prevention of criminality, citizens’ rights and obligations;

– Pro-social behaviors: Pro-social problem-solving skills.

Each workshop was attended by 7 young Roma prisoners and 3 Police or Prison employees, depending on the topic. The attendants were involved in practical activities, designed to make them understand the applicative dimension of the topics discussed.

Through these five workshops, young Roma prisoners from the Buziaş Educational Center and employees from the Police and the Buzias Educational Center interacted in an intercultural context with the help of dynamic activities, thus creating the premises for better communication between the participants.

Police and employees of Buzias Educational Center were made aware of the specific problems faced by Roma youth in the process of social reintegration, while the youngsters attending the workshops became aware of the tasks of the Police and Buzias Educational Center employees and their common role in a well-functioning society.

Researcher and Trainer,
Loredana Marcela Trancă