Prisoners Reintegration Opportunities and Training in Artificial Environments for Employment

<< Background >>We applied for this project to respond to the urgent need for innovative, inclusive, and practical approaches to support the reintegration of prisoners and former prisoners into society. Many of our partner organizations work directly with vulnerable adult learners, including those in prison, and have identified significant gaps in soft skills education, motivation, and employability. Traditional training methods often fail to engage this target group or respond to their specific needs. Through PROTA, we aim to create tailored and accessible tools, such as virtual reality-based training and the AFTER guide, to improve personal development, communication, and employability skills. We also sought to strengthen cooperation between education providers, judicial institutions, and NGOs across Europe, ensuring a more coherent and cross-sectoral approach to rehabilitation. The project responded to EU priorities to promote social inclusion, second-chance education, and digital innovation in adult learning.<< Objectives >>Through the implementation of the PROTA project, we aim to improve the reintegration prospects of prisoners and former prisoners by providing them with essential soft skills and increasing their access to innovative, learner-centered training tools. Our objective was to develop practical and adaptable resources, such as the virtual reality-based training environment and the AFTER guide, to support personal development, communication, decision-making, and employability. We also sought to raise awareness among professionals working in the prison environment about the importance of individualized, skills-based education. Another key objective was to strengthen collaboration between adult education providers, justice institutions, NGOs, and community actors across Europe. Through this, we aimed to promote sustainable networks that support social inclusion, reduce recidivism, and improve pathways to second-chance education. Finally, the project aspired to create a long-term impact by introducing scalable and transferable practices in prison education systems and beyond.<< Implementation >>Within the PROTA project, we have implemented a series of interconnected activities aimed at developing and promoting innovative tools for the reintegration of prisoners and former prisoners. We started with national desk research and a comparative study to identify existing practices and gaps in the field of prison education and reintegration support. Based on these findings, we developed the PROTA modular curriculum and the virtual reality-based soft skills training tool, providing experiential learning tailored to the needs of the target group. We also created the AFTER Guide to support professionals in post-release reintegration processes. These tools have been translated into all partner languages and uploaded to the PROTA online platform. Pilot workshops were organized in each partner country to test and refine the materials with both prisoners and professionals. Dissemination activities included newsletters, social media campaigns, articles, and the organization of national and international multiplier events. Throughout the project, we collected feedback from stakeholders to assess relevance.<< Results >>The PROTA project has produced several concrete and impactful results aimed at supporting the reintegration of prisoners and former prisoners. Key results include:PROTA modular curriculum—a structured set of soft skills training modules tailored to the needs of adult learners in the prison and reintegration context.Virtual reality training tool—An innovative virtual reality environment that simulates real-life scenarios to develop communication, decision-making, and teamwork skills.The AFTER Guide—A practical handbook for professionals working in the field of reintegration, providing structured guidance and resources to support people after release.The online platform—a multilingual, freely accessible platform hosting all training materials, the VR tool, and downloadable resources.National and European dissemination—Wide promotion through social media, newsletters, events, and platforms such as EPALE to ensure visibility and accessibility.Multiplier events—National events involving prison educators, NGOs, and public institutions.