Empowering Learning Models in Prison

2026-07-22

The influx of migrant groups in Cyprus from conflict stricken neighboring countries, where radicalization, terrorism and fundamentalism are rising, call for preventive actions against such phenomena. This project is grounded on the European Agenda on Security and the Conclusions of the Council of the EU on enhancing the criminal justice response to radicalization (2015). Even though at present, radicalization appears to be marginal in Cyprus Prisons, by responding to detainee’s needs the ELMIP project aspires to be a barrier to radicalism growth in Cyprus and Europe. The project aims to empower detainees and prison staff through innovative educational opportunities and specialized training. A training curriculum will be composed for educating 40 young detainees 16-35 years old on basic & soft skills through 20 empowering workshops. Prison staff (correctional officers, guards, management staff etc) training will include risk assessment methods targeting overall 200 participants via 9 training & 2 awareness raising workshops. A dissemination strategy aiming to transform public attitudes towards prisoners’ re-entry into society will be devised by organizing awareness activities: 3 Community events, 1 Press conference, 1 Final conference, 5 short video clips of testimonies, a social media campaign and a website. Finally, horizontal activities aim to achieve Management & Coordination through 3 Bilateral Agreements, 1 Management Plan, 6 Progress Reports, 5 Partners Meetings,1 Steering & 1 Quality Assurance Committees, 2 Official reports & 1 Quality Assurance plan. Monitoring & Evaluation will be achieved through external project evaluation & an ethics officer. Outputs include: 180 CAPI assisted interviews and 3 Evaluation workshops Reports (Baseline, Midterm, Final). The expected results reflect the objectives set by the Call by developing appropriate material and implementing activities aiming at detecting early signs of radicalization in prison and reducing recidivism.

Cyprus

2026-01-15