Portuguese
Mentors’
Training
Course
In January 2025, Leiria Youth Prison hosted a Mentors’ Training Course held within the M4Pris project. This training course was delivered by Aproximar, Cooperativa de Solidariedade Social, CRL, and implemented at Leiria Youth Prison in collaboration with the Directorate-General of Reintegration and Prison Services (Direção-Geral de Reinserção e Serviços Prisionais, DGRSP), with the aim of equipping mentors with the necessary skills and tools to ensure an effective Peer Mentoring Programme for Prison Staff.
The training cohort for mentors included professionals from diverse backgrounds, representing diverse genders, ages, and years of experience within the prison system. These mentors are employed by the DGRSP at Leiria Youth Prison, where they each fulfil unique roles. A total of 18 professionals were involved in the sessions, evenly split between 9 males and 9 females.
The training followed a blended learning (b-learning) format, which combined asynchronous online sessions with synchronous face-to-face sessions. This format allowed participants to thoroughly understand the theoretical content at their own pace before applying it in practical exercises during face-to-face sessions.
During the training sessions, various methods were employed, including presentations, debates, practical exercises, group activities, and role-plays. This interactive environment encouraged active participation and the exchange of experiences among participants.
At the end, participants evaluated the training and praised the clarity of the explanations and the simplicity of the event, highlighting the effectiveness of the teaching methods used. One participant mentioned, “Good presentation of the programme, good explanation, and above all, the simplicity of the event”. Another participant recommended the content, stating, “The content was interesting. I recommend it!”.
The mentors’ training in Portugal, proved to be a significant step for the professional development of those involved, ensuring the practical application of acquired skills and promoting a collaborative and effective learning environment.