July - August 2010

WESTERN – CENTRAL EUROPE

Dear colleagues in Prison Fellowship,

We are researching the issue of Care for Foreign Prisoners. On the proposal of the European
Support Group (ESG or RLT), PFI has confirmed this as an issue of importance. At our
convocation in 2011 the commission which I am chairing will produce a report with interesting
facts and findings, and provide a framework to start a project. Our desire is that we as members of a
unique worldwide association will increase our capacity and our ministry to foreign prisoners.
As they are isolated from their families and vice versa, once they go back to their homeland, we can
serve as a crucial bridge for successful re-integration. It seems that foreign prisoners are excluded
from education, that they do not have contact with the outside world and long for personal and
spiritual care.
You will receive some questions very soon prepared by Silvia Pinto from PF Portugal and Sami
Puumala from PF Finland. They are members of the Commission and need your input for an
important part of the report. Further, our Commission is supported by my colleague Joost de Jager,
and by Peter Walker and Dominique Alexandre both from the secretariat of PFI. We met on August
25th to set the goals and timeline.
Thinking about this topic, I was touched by Paul’s letter to the Philippians. He was in prison in
Rome and was visited by Epaphroditus. To him it was a ‘fragrant offering’ and ‘well pleasing to
God’ (4:18). This is exactly what PF is all about: serving people in prison, to the honour of God.

God bless you richly in your ministry to prisoners and their families!
Hans Barendrecht
PF Netherlands & Member of the European RLT

P.S. Silvia will soon finish an academic study and continue with a PhD on Foreign
Prisoners! So an extra reason to respond to the questionnaire you will soon receive.
Suggestions are welcome as well!

Cluj Seminars Outcomes

The June Newsletter included an article on the first outcomes from PFI trainings led by the
RLT in Cluj – Romania. Materials (CD Rom, Handout) and reports are still available upon
request for those who would like copies. Some of you have not sent your evaluation form,
please ask for a blank form from Dominique and fill it in, as we very much appreciate
being able to evaluate the results of such trainings in the long term. Share with us how
you put into practice the learning!
 Chaplaincies: IPCA worldwide conference
International Prison Chaplains’ Association (IPCA) had the 6th worldwide conference in
Stockholm, Sweden 20-25 August. About 300 prison chaplains from all over the world
participated in the most important prison chaplaincy international meeting, which is held
every 5th year. Some of the participants have a PF role as well. Included from PFI Europe
family were Gabor Roszik, Avo Uprus and Sami Puumala. Also Soren Johnson from PFI
head office participated and led a workshop. The theme of the conference was “Forgotten
people”, referring to the basic human rights of every inmate and the responsibility of the
nations as well as faith communities to defend and fulfil those basic rights. The same way
as in PFI convocations, many useful workshops were run to learn together and to develop
prison ministry and related themes. It seems to be, that in Europe there are challenges to
improve the relationship between prison chaplaincy and PF ministries. We should do all
we can to meet these challenges and tensions, both at national levels of each NM and in
regional level of PFI. Reported by Sami Puumala
Want to know more about IPCA? Have a look at their website:
http://www.ipcaworldwide.org/Templates/Article10.aspx?PageID=d2039a53-a301-48f7-b4c0-9a942ab91eb1

Letter Writing Programme - England &Wales

PF E&W is currently re-launching its Letter Writing Programme, starting with a first
volunteer training day in August and then continuing throughout September and
October. This has been ‘on hold’ for the past year, finally re-opening it to both volunteers
and prisoners. PFE&W has an excellent training module. “A letter or a card mean so much to
the lads inside who have no friends or family to care about them’’ reports Jill, volunteer at PF
Preston.
If you want to read Jill’s testimony and other news from PF E&W , read the PF E&W Newsletter
http://www.prisonfellowship.org.uk/assets/files/Prison%20Fellowship%20NewsSum10%20Web.pdf

PF Switzerland training events

Volunteers and friends of PF Switzerland have held a one day training on
Communication. The event took place on August 14th and the guest speaker was Pastor
Ammeter who shared some key attitude on how to communicate with others, be they
visitors of prisoners or administrative staff. PF Switzerland Board will also visit PF
Germany juvenile project on September 18th to learn how it operates.

Expanding the STP in Scotland

PF Scotland now runs STP in eight Scottish prisons due to the increased interest and
support of prison management and the Chaplains.

PRAYER REQUESTS
- Pray for juveniles from Targu Mures Prison- Romania : 101 of them learn how to write and
read through a PF Romania training course. Pray for David, Rares, Alexandra and Gina who are
twice a week going to prison. Pray for the families of juveniles as PF is trying to meet their needs.
- Pray for Prison Fellowship Germany. They were asked by the Ministry of Justice of the state of
Saxony already 1 ½ years ago to prepare everything to start an alternative for juvenile prison but
the Ministry of Finance cut the finances due to budget restrictions. Pray that the Members of
Parliament will work this out and that PF will receive the funds to start the project.
 EASTERN EUROPE – CENTRAL ASIA
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings to you from our Team of the European Office of PFI !
We pray for you daily, and we hope you are well rested and ready to continue your service in the
prisons of the region, among former prisoners, and their families, and among victims of crime.
Please share with us your achievements and problems, your project ideas or needs in implementing
PFI programmes.
We have already started the preparations for the 9-th PFI World Convocation in Toronto, Canada
(June 28 – July 3, 2011). Please respond to our requests for information, so that we could secure
smooth and fruitful participation to your ministry delegates.
Ivan Sotirov

Sport Events for Prisoners in Moldova

PF Moldova has organized football and volleyball games in a number of prisons,
including the top security prison of Krikovo. An international team of volunteers of the
ministry and partners from Australia, Germany and Bulgaria took part in the events, and
donated jerseys and sports equipment to the prisons visited.
The motto of the sporting events was: – Not all is lost if you trust in Jesus Christ the Saviour!

Recognition and Award to

PF Kyrgyzstan
The ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic
has awarded a commemorative medal to PF
Kyrgyzstan for its contribution to prison reform
and work in the prisons. Moreover, all four
Rehabilitation Centres for released prisoners and
for their vocational training, have been given a
special diploma of appreciation. PF Kyrgyzstan
has been invited as a primary partner to a national-level meeting on the work and further
development of rehabilitation centres for released prisoners, together with such
organizations as the International Red Cross and the MSF (Doctors Without Borders).
 PF Kazakhstan expanding Partnerships

PF Kazakhstan leaders have been invited to take part in a meeting of NGO representatives
during the official visit of President Medvedev of Russia at the invitation of President
Nazarbaev of Kazakhstan. The meeting will take place on Sept 7th in the city of Ust
Kamenogorsk, where the national office of PF Kazakhstan is located.
PF Kazakhstan ED, Dmitry Dobrolyubov, is planning visits to Almaty, the economic
capital of the country and to the southern city of Chimkent, where churches involved in
prison ministry are ready to establish partnership.

Fighting against Recidivism in Russia

The Rehabilitation Centre for released prisoners “Nazorej” in the city of Voronezh is the
best in PF Russia’s network. It could offer shelter and spiritual and vocational training to
40 people at a time. Over 2,150 former prisoners have gone through the programs of the
Centre over the last 10 years with an incredible rate of recidivism of only 3 %.
The Russian Federal prison system has made a major move in the continuing prison
reform under the influence of PF Russia, segregating first-time offenders from recidivists,
in order to avoid contacts

PRAYER REQUESTS
- We are sorry to announce you the passing away of Gennady Staroverov, the
Executive Director of PF Russia on July 25th. He was suffering from a heart condition, and was
affected by the dramatic heat that Moscow went through this summer. Gennady Vassilyevich was a
man who surrendered his life to most needy people of his country. Please join us in prayer for his
family and the Ministry.
- Pray for Hon. Walter Schmied, former Member of Parliament and President of the
Association of Friends of PFI, who has been diagnosed with a heart condition, due to burnout.

Resources & Trainings

- Angel Tree® materials were mailed to all national ministries on 2 August, so most
ministries should have received the package by the end of the month. This year’s materials
feature a redesigned Angel Tree® logo, poster, and tags. Please email us at info@pfi.org to
let us know if you received the materials and how you like the new look!
- Next month, you will receive information about PFI’s Prisoner Art Contest and Exhibition
that will be part of the 2011 Convocation. We encourage you to consider hosting a
prisoner art contest in your country!

- Are you interested in getting some specific skills on Restorative Justice? Be aware of
the International Diploma in Restorative Justice which will be held (in English only), at
Queen’s University Kingston Canada in July 2011, following Convocation. For further
information feel free to contact Lynette Parker (lparker@pfi.org).

ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE NEXT EUROPE NEWSLETTER ARE MORE THAN WELCOME:
Please send them to dalexandre@pfi.org (Western Europe) or isotirov@pfi.org (for Eastern Europe
and Central Asia)

PFI Europe News is brought to you by Prison Fellowship International. Compiled and edited every other
month by Dominique Alexandre and Ivan Sotirov - PFI Europe Secretariat, Rue du Panorama 4, 1800 Vevey, Switzerland
© 2010 by Prison Fellowship International - All rights reserved - Reprints permitted with acknowledgement