In a significant step towards supporting rehabilitation of prisoners, three penitentiary institutions in Georgia have decided to open ceramic workshops. The Council of Europe supported this initiative by providing the necessary equipment. The juvenile inmates in Penitentiary Institution #8, as well as all those serving their sentences in Penitentiary Institution #2 and the newly opened penitentiary institution in Laituri, are the beneficiaries.

The donation comprises 3 kilns, 84 kiln posts, 45 plaster moulds of diverse shapes, 9 refractory shelves, and ceramic supports (plates and tiles) designed for multi-level loading. Additionally, 30 open racks with a metal frame have been provided to store the produced items.

The ceramic workshop in Penitentiary Institution #8 was inaugurated on 21 December 2023 in the presence of the direct beneficiaries of the initiative – the convicted juveniles. The youths expressed joy and excitement about the workshop, anticipating the time they would spend there.

The opening of the remaining two ceramic workshops is scheduled for March 2024, with renovations currently underway. By providing offenders with meaningful opportunities for skill development and positive engagement during their detention, these efforts seek to contribute to a more constructive and rehabilitative environment.

This activity was conducted under the auspices of the Council of Europe project “Enhancing Healthcare Provision in Georgia’s Penitentiary System”, which is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2020-2023.