APROXIMAR (PORTUGAL)
PROJECT COORDINATOR
Created in 2006, Aproximar is an NGO that aims to enhance the social and human capital of families, their surrounding community and young offenders. Aproximar has delivered projects that develop personal and social skills of young people in conflict with the law and/or young adults deprived of liberty in a Prison, and therefore, has a strong connection with the Portuguese prison system.
The organisation provides services in four main sectors: Criminal Justice System; Education, Training and Social Capital; Active Ageing and Dependent Care; and Social Economy, Entrepreneurship and Employability. These services include mentoring, non-formal education activities, entrepreneurship training and the development of new initiatives within the justice system.
Associatia Vis Juventum (Romania)
Founded in 2012, the Vis Juventum Association is a non-profit, independent organisation based in Romania with experience in social and youth projects. The members of the association work to promote volunteering, social awareness and active citizenship, and improve inter-ethnic relations in order to reduce discriminatory actions towards marginalised communities.
To achieve their aims, Vis Juventum uses relevant community resources combined with the professionalism, knowledge and enthusiasm of its members, partners and volunteers.
Merseyside Expanding Horizons (United Kingdom)
Merseyside Expanding Horizons Ltd (MEH) is an established voluntary and community sector organisation working in the field of social inclusion in Merseyside, England and is a key stakeholder and influential support body. MEH delivers projects and services that support isolated individuals into training, social enterprise and employment, including those in ethnic minorities and those with mental health problems.
Their preferred process includes a wide range of techniques such as running volunteer mentor programmes and providing a link between citizens and public sector organisations.
Baia Mare Prison (Romania)
Baia Mare Prison is a public institution of national interest in defence, public order and national security. The prison supported the goals and objectives of the Romanian prison system, by following international recommendations in the education of persons in detention, by providing high professional standards for achieving the targets, understanding individuals and the organization, and developing strategies for change. Currently, the prison has 300 inmates in it’s care within an open and semi-open regime.
The prison’s staff include educators, social workers and psychologists who will be collaborateing to implement the outcomes of the VOICE action.Foundation 180 provides courses and training programmes for professionals and young people, to enable them to access employment. 180 ensures the efficacy of this work through behavioural interventions and programmes, advice, audits, result measurements and data compilation. Furthermore, the organisation connects with prominent scientists, users and interested parties, so that their programmes are developed with expertise and insight.
Fundación Diagrama Intervención Psicosocial (Spain)
Fundación Diagrama Intervisión Psicosocial is a non-profit organization that has worked since 1991 to attend to the needs of vulnerable people or people in social difficulty, always from the defense and promotion of Human Rights.
The mission of the Foundation is to promote and develop centers, services, programs and research aimed at the prevention and treatment and integration of all those people who are in difficulty or social risk , especially children, young people, families, women and people in situation of dependency.
ASSOCIAZIONE ARTISTICA CULTURALE A ROCCA "A Rocca" (Italy)
The “A Rocca” Associazione Artistica Culturale is a non-profit organization set up in 2007 that implements a variety of different EU funded projects. A Rocca aims to foster mutual understanding among different cultures and to increase youth’s international and employment opportunities based on real experience, improving transversal skills and intercultural competences.
A Rocca provides innovative training programmes and internships for participants in order to aid their personal and professional development, specialising in the fields of education, Erasmus mobility, vocational training and youth exchange. A Rocca is experienced in managing programmes throughout their entire lifecycle, including the design, development, implementation, follow up and dissemination of results.
180 Foudation (THE NETHERLANDS)
Foundation 180 is an independent, non-profit organisation with a wide network that aims to improve the social position of vulnerable and at-risk youth by connecting them with employers. Foundation 180 believes that bringing this inclusion and diversity into the workplace creates an environment of innovation and is highly beneficial to both parties.
Foundation 180 provides courses and training programmes for professionals and young people, to enable them to access employment. 180 ensures the efficacy of this work through behavioural interventions and programmes, advice, audits, result measurements and data compilation. Furthermore, the organisation connects with prominent scientists, users and interested parties, so that their programmes are developed with expertise and insight.
YOUNG IN PRISON INTERNATIONAL (THE NETHERLANDS)
Young in Prison is an NGO active in The Netherlands and abroad, which is focused on advocating for and collaborating with young people who have been deprived of their liberty. The team at YiP manages project fundraising, project development and implementation, monitoring and evaluation. As well as supporting those inside of youth prisons and correctional institutions, YiP also guides young people in their transition from life inside prison to ‘life on the outside’.
From inside the prisons, YiP facilitates creative and athletic programmes designed to teach young people important Life Skills and to allow them to discover their inner strength. Youthlab is a service for those who have been out of prison for a long time, where they can receive training from professionals in the juvenile justice system.
Psychological support and counselling centre (Lithuania)
Established in 2001, PPKC is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that aims to offer psychological and social support for disadvantaged social groups including families, unemployed adults and youth at risk. PPKC believes in supporting their service users to increase not only their skills, but also their self-confidence.
The main methods that PPKC uses to achieve these outcomes are training programmes, psychological support, and counselling. They lead towards active and experiential-learning oriented methods, with a 15-strong team consisting of psychologists, psychotherapists, profession and career advisers, social workers and occupational therapists.