All trainees who have completed welding training (argon, CO2 and arc welding) have been awarded with an official attest certificate on completed training. By attesting the welders, their prospects for finding employment or starting a business are greatly increased. The members of the project team have estimated that the attest of welders is useful, and improves their employability, which is why this activity was undertaken, even though it was not initially planned. By increasing the employability of former prisoners, the project goal – their employment upon release from prison – is being affirmed and made more visible.

The prisoners have demonstrated great interest in welding. The number of potential trainees was limited due to the long duration of the planned training. Of the 54 prisoners who were trained in all three prisons, a total of 44 of them have passed the final exam and obtained the attest. The attesting of the welding trainees was done by the certified institutes: “27. januar” Institute Niš for the Niš detention facility, “IMS Institute” Belgrade for the detention facilities Sremska Mitrovica and Požarevac.

This attest is significant for prisoners because it will provide them with a greater acceptance by potential employers upon release. According to the National Employment Service data, welding is one of the vocations with the highest demand in Serbia.

The project ‘VET Support for Serbian Detention Facilities’ is implemented by ECG in Consortium with BfW and AARHUS. The project is financed by the European Union Delegation in Serbia and it is one more in a series of projects that harmonizes the Serbian judicial system, and more precisely, the penitentiary sanctions execution system, with the best European practise in that area.