The Sicilian partners are the only partners in the project that don’t work inside the prison, but both carry out different activities which, directly or indirectly, may be considered of promotion, development and growth of self-esteem, both for prisoners and for the individual in general.
The mobility took place between the two towns of Sciacca (province of Agrigento) and Contessa Entellina (province of Palermo), respectively, seats of the two Sicilian partners.
The first day was dedicated to the knowledge of the program, and discussion of the activities to be undertaken during the mobility. During the day it was possible to know some pieces of the culture of Sicily and of Sciacca, , the laboratory of coral, a ceramic pottery workshop and an oil mill with tasting of local products.
During the second day, the group went to Contessa Entellina, seat of the partner “Associazione Agenti ed operatori dello sviluppo socio culturale”. At the beginning, the partners were a bit skeptical on the activities carried out by the Association and some doubted about the useful contribution to the project that could result from this partner. As a result, the data collected in the satisfaction questionnaires, the meeting was satisfactory and resourceful. In fact, the group was welcomed in the Town Hall of the Municipality, where members of local authorities were waiting for it. During the meeting there was the opportunity to know and to see the activities carried out by the Association and its members, who in a within a range of 360 degrees work closely with all levels of society to create and strengthen the cohesion and the sense of local identity, with the aim of promoting self-esteem and increasing the value of a cultural and environmental heritage of great value, starting from the local school, teaching the ancient arbëreshe language, the folkloristic group, promoting cultural activities and social services for young people, a cultural centre for old people, activities of environmental protection, etc. .. Moreover, the partners had the opportunity to see the typical arbëreshe costume of Contessa.
Thursday was devoted to the activity of Painting workshop scheduled to be held in the prison “Casa Circondariale di Sciacca”. The partners were introduced to the activities carried out inside the prison, met the Director and some collegues. The painting workshop was conducted by the project coordinator Brian (Ireland), who asked three of the prisoners to paint each other. During the activity it was also possible to submit the prisoners the Rosenberg Test, the latter activity was proposed by the Portuguese partners in order to pointing out the results of the activity immediately.
The same workshop was submitted later to the group itself, and all the partners underwent the test too. In fact, in the afternoon, the partners were brought on the seat of the other Sicilian partner “CoFHUR”, where they exposed the training activities normally conducted by the association to the community. Soon after it was distributed to each participant all the tools needed for the painting workshop. The obvious and tangible result was that all of them found not only relaxing but also very profitable to carry out a painting activity (for some was the first time), and to recognize that engaging in something constructive activity you can reap positive benefits for yourself, but also, indirectly, for those around you.
Moreover, seeing how everyone painted his/her partner, made us find out our hidden potential and has fostered the birth of unknown interests that probably we didn’t know we had. All the group also had a great fun! After, a questionnaire about the acvities developed during this project meeting was completed by the participants, who received certificates of attendance to this mobility.
