Over the course of one year, volunteers from LCC International University visited Šiauliai Prison to build something simple yet powerful: human connection through language. Through an English Conversation Club, students and staff met regularly with a small group of incarcerated participants, creating a space for dialogue, curiosity, and mutual learning. In addition to the volunteer visits, a professional English teacher held monthly lessons, offering more structured language learning opportunities. The initiative was implemented in partnership with the NGO Prirašytos Rankos, which helped coordinate and facilitate the activities. As the project progressed, what began as a language practice initiative gradually evolved into something deeper—a reflective process where trust, listening, and open conversation became the core of the experience.

Rather than following a rigid program, the project adapted over time, discovering that the most meaningful moments often emerged in one-on-one conversations where participants and volunteers could simply talk as people. These encounters challenged stereotypes on both sides of the prison walls and opened space for honest reflection about life, responsibility, and hope. Two public events were also held at LCC International University, where student volunteers shared their stories and reflections from volunteering in the prison. The events were designed to inform the wider university community and the public about the realities of incarceration, the human encounters that took place during the project, and the lessons volunteers learned along the way. By sharing these experiences, the events aimed to break stereotypes about people in prison and encourage more thoughtful conversations about justice, rehabilitation, and human dignity.

Disclaimer: This work reflects only the author’s views, and the National Agency and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for the information contained in it. The activities are implemented within the framework of the project “Connecting through Language.