The International Literacy Association Award
for Innovative Reading Promotion in Europe 2017
is presented to
Snježana Berak
for an original idea
Croatian prison reading program for parents and children
submitted by the Croatian Reading Association
2 July 2017 at the 20th European Literacy Conference in Madrid, Spain
Doug Fisher President International Literacy Association
Renate Valtin Chairperson International Development in Europe Committee
Justification:
“It is an innovative, long-lasting project in a difficult field, developing literacy skills for children with special needs, and giving excellent examples of national networking. The project impressed due to its combination of methods, clear outcomes and focus on specific target groups. Children who are in contact with their parents-detainees (through literacy activities) are at a lower risk of developing undesirable behaviour, and they experience smaller stress of separation from the absent parent. By listening to their parents’ reading, the children can develop reading skills and thus succeed at school. The program also has a preventive role for a parent prisoner because the prisoner who managed to retain (or develop) a close relationship with his/her child during imprisonment shows a lower risk of repeating crime after release. The Prison Reading Program contributes to the rehabilitation of the whole family. Through the project the prison staff also get a chance to learn about the importance of literacy as a means of communication, and the staff can use this kind of knowledge in their work with many inmates”.
