Summer Holidays in a Dutch correctional institution for juveniles: The EU Leonardo da Vinci Project "Youth" (Inclus. music CD)

The Leonardo da Vinci Project "Youth" took place in correctional institutions for juveniles in Bremen (Germany), Rome (Italy), Sassenheim (The Netherlands) and Thessaloniki (Greece) under the leadership of the Greek partners. This book is the final report of the Dutch "Youth" project, which took place in Teylingereind, Sassenheim. Therefore the other projects are summerized in part III by the project-leaders in the three partner countries in order to show the international character of the project and to give at least a glimpse of cultural and practical differences in the situations in the participating correctional institutions. In connection with the "Youth" project with the "Youth" project we recognized for example that the freedom juveniles have in the Netherlands when painting and doing handicraft is much bigger than in Greece, where the juveniles were not allowed to paint with paintbrushes, but were reduced to colour pencils. In constructing the big cell and the cellwalls various tools were used in Sassenheim that are not permitted in Thessaloniki. It is not only the different material that shows differences between tha paintings of juveniles in the Dutch and Greek prisions. There are also differences in the chosen subjects, and in ways of expression. The paintings from Teylingereind immediately show the big ehtnic diversity in the Dutch institution and the great influence of the Anglo-American culture on juveniles in the Netherlands. Focus of attention in part II of this book are the summer holidays of 2002 in Teylingereind during which the "Youth" project was implemented in the Correctional Institution. The artist Gerard Schoemaker and several volunteers painted and constructed a cell and cell-walls together with the juveniles and they also made music Ben (included on a music cd in the book). As the Equip Programme is implemented in Teylingereind, the Equip trainer gives a short overview of this programme. In the book the volunteers and the artist report on their experience and at the same time let the juveniles speak to the reader. The many paintings of the juveniles, reproduced in this book, however, are the main medium with which the juveniles behind the prison-walls try to reduce their isolation and to communicate with the outside world. This communication was also stimulated by the four exhibitions that took place. The presentation of the "Youth" project would not be complete without disscussing the question why those juvelines in Teylingereind are deprived of their liberty. Therefore part 1 of this book focuses on aspects of criminality, juvenile justice and the need of a broad education in correctional institutions for juveniles.