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 20^th 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”.