The lack of awareness among incarcerated mothers about engaging with their children in a quality manner is one of the most significant problems in educating children in prisons. The communication style of mothers is often inappropriate for children and can affect their development. Furthermore, prison staff experience enormous stress and pressure due to dealing with difficult situations in their work. Structured and comprehensive training on how to approach mothers and children living with their mothers is necessary.
The overall objective of the HOPE project is to create sustainable and high-level cooperation between civil society in Turkey and Greece.
Objectives:
- To contribute to the development of methodology and policy for early childhood education in prisons.
- To create a sustainable and long-term partnership between TOCEV and ANTIGONE.
Target groups:
- Children aged 0-6 years imprisoned with their mothers in prisons
- Imprisoned mothers
- Relatives of mothers and the wider society
- Prison staff
- TOCEV staff, ANTIGONE staff who will improve their skills in organizing activities with children in prisons
- Other NGOs
- Ministry of Justice of Turkey
Activities:
- Preparatory study visits to selected prisons to determine the current situation
- 2 types of training, 4 total training seminars for prison staff
- Case study visit to Greece, seminar and training seminars for prison staff in Turkey
- Activities in prisons (7 visits to each prison, 42 visits in total)
- Final Conference on the right of children to access education
- Preparation of a report on early childhood education in prisons.
Duration:
April 2019 – July 2020
Partners:
TOÇEV (Tüvana Okuma İstekli Çocuk Eğitim Vakfı)
ANTIGONE – Information and Documentation Center on Racism, Ecology, Peace and Non-Violence
Supporter:
Ministry of Justice of Turkey, Directorate of Prisons
Funding:
EuropeAid