This document summarizes the responses from 52 questionnaires evaluating an exchange activity program between prisons in several European countries. The majority of participants found the activity interesting and enjoyed communicating with people from other countries. Respondents reported feelings of surprise, curiosity, and happiness. They felt it improved their creative skills and language skills. The most enjoyable aspects were sending positive messages to others, the classroom atmosphere, and learning about other cultures. Some participants felt it was unfair that prison conditions varied between countries. Overall, respondents found the activity useful, especially for their emotional well-being, knowledge, and creativity. Suggestions for future activities included providing more time, enabling more personal contact, and organizing exchanges based on shared interests.

1. EXCHANGE ACTIVITY EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE
Grundtvig Learning Partnership “Second Chance”
2013-2015
There were 52 questionnaires evaluated in total: Spain – 10 questionnaires, Italy – 15, Romania– 10,
Turkey – 5, Poland – 5, Estonia – 8.
1. How interesting was this exchange activity for you? Did you enjoy communication (exchange) with
the participants from other countries?
Vast majority of the participants replied that the exchange activity was interesting for them.
2. Please tell us how this activity has made you feel.
The majority felt positively during the exchange activities.

2. The respondents mentioned the following feelings: surprise, curiosity, empathy, pleasure, joy,
recognition, happiness, excitement, that the present will not be good enough, feeling of productivity,
increased self-esteem.
The thoughts that accompanied the exchange activities:
 Attitude towards the inmates has positively changed;
 Feeling of belonging to Europe;
 The activity favoured increased tolerance (“we are different, so much different, but it
generates warm feeling inside not the wish to step aside»).
 Please tell us about any skills or knowledge you feel you have improved as a result of this
activity.
Most of all the exchange activities improved skills.

3. Most often are mentioned development of creative skills, self-expression (23 persons): («Do
something, that I have never done before», «Try to express own feelings creatively without words»).
11 persons improved translation skills from English language («After 10 years of school I took a
dictionary and surprisingly was able to translate everything!)
New knowledge that the respondents acquired are: knowledge about people from other countries,
knowledge about discrimination, tolerance and multiculturality, information about prison schools in
other countries. 3 respondents replied that they learning motivation has increased.
4. What was the most enjoyable thing about the activity?
The most enjoyable was:
 Opportunity to send a positive message to others in the similar situation – 16 respondents (“ I
wanted to do something warm, that could have warmed another person's soul”, “It's nice that
somebody would be glad to receive my drawing”)
 The atmosphere in the classroom («Work was done with heart») – 15 respondents
 Knowledge about other cultures – 13 respondents.
Also were mentioned:
 Respect that was felt during the exchange activity.
 Opportunity to tell about own experience and learn about experience of others.
 Attitude of teachers.

4. 5. What was the least enjoyable thing about the activity?
Among the least enjoyable aspects:
 14 respondents mentioned the difference between conditions in prisons of different European
countries. They felt it unfair, because all inmates should have the same conditions in all
European countries;
 8 respondents mentioned that there could be more time dedicated to the activity as well as
more tasks;
 7 persons would prefer to contact personally. The messages that they received were
superficial, they could not find sincere messages. Two felt it boring to communicate without a
personal contact.
 4 respondents answered that they were worried how others accept they art works.
6. Please tell us how useful was this activity for you.
Generally the respondents assessed the exchange activities as useful and positive.
The most useful and positive was emotional value that was felt by 14 participants («This kind of
activity positively influences mental state», «Difficult to describe but it was pleasant», «I relaxed»,
«I don't know was it useful or not, but I was involved, felt a bit worried but it was pleasant»)
New knowledge and creative work were considered equally useful (for 6 participants both) («More
knowledge about other cultures», «Improved English», «Creativity is useful by itself, it lift us
beyond our abilities»). 2 participants learned themselves better during the exchange activities («I
didn't think that I am capable for this!»)

5. 7. Is there anything you feel we could improve for future activities?
The most common answers:
 Provide more time for this kind of activities, continue exchange.
 Create and opportunity for more personal contact.
 Organize an exchange between people with similar interest and hobbies.
 Learn foreign languages.
 Pay more attention for participating countries.