20.11.2017

Cooking classes offering language skills for prison inmates

EAEA GRUNDTVIG AWARD 2017. Ricette ristrette teaches prison inmates Italian language skills through cooking.

With several nationalities and several different social backgrounds, all the students had a variety of reasons for being in prison. The Ricette ristrette project offers inmates Italian classes while cooking together and sharing information about food and traditional dishes. The name of the project, Ricette ristrette, which means restricted recipes in English, echoes the fact that inmates had to adapt to living conditions in prison in order to cook, as, for example, they did not have access to a large selection of kitchen equipment.

Wide benefits

Inmates gained many benefits from these classes. Some of them never had the opportunity to cook by themselves before going to prison. These classes, besides providing Italian skills and new vocabulary to inmates, enabled them to learn cooking techniques and exchange opinions about Italian food.

During the courses, for many inmates, memories of their families emerged, as well as anecdotes about their childhood. This project enables inmates to socialize, to learn new skills and to empower themselves. At the end of every class, the food was eaten together in a very relaxed and cheerful atmosphere, rather unusual in prison.

The project: Ricette ristrette
  • Award category: National projects (Italy)
  • Learner target group: Prison inmates
  • Innovative practice: Using learner stories and social media for advocacy

Project coordinator

The article series shares good practices on engaging new learners by introducing the nominees of the EAEA Grundtvig Award 2017.

 

Text: Lou-Andréa PinsonPhotos: Jakob Owens / Unsplash

26.11.2024 inclusion

Listen to learners, include families and empower educators: Insights from EAEA events during the LLLW 2024

EAEA organised three events during the Lifelong Learning Week 2024, ranging from enhancing the learners’ voice, to empowering educators for higher quality adult education provisions, to a holistic view of society and the family in policy-making.

14.11.2024 ABC of ALE

ABC of ALE: Annual training for adult educators focuses on grassroots Adult Education initiatives

In October 2024, EAEA organised the “ABC of ALE” training programme in Brussels, an introductory capacity-building workshop that delved into Adult Learning and Education (ALE) as a historic concept, movement, and transformative tool in society. The training targeted entry and mid-level professionals in the field, with the view to provide them with an overview of the concept of non-formal adult learning and education, linking it to both theory and practice.

14.11.2024 advocacy

EAEA’s induction at the IACE Hall of Fame: This award is for everyone active in EAEA

At the beginning of November, EAEA took part in the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame (HoF) conference and its induction ceremony in the impressive settings of the University of Florence.