VOL Mentorink Project Honored at the EEA and Norway Grants Gala
- Pavel X. Rakušan
- Apr 11
- 2 min read
On April 10, 2025, the “SUCCESSES THAT CONNECT” gala evening took place at the National House in Vinohrady, Prague. The event marked the conclusion of the third programming period of the EEA and Norway Grants. It was an evening of gratitude dedicated to all who contributed to achieving the goals of the Grants, and it also featured the recognition of selected projects — out of more than 800 implemented projects, only 16 were awarded, including the VOL Mentorink project, implemented by VOLONTÉ CZECH, o.p.s.
The award was accepted on stage by Mgr. Lukáš Salivar, Director of VOLONTÉ CZECH, and Ing. Zuzana Bejó, Executive Director for Project Activities. A shortened version of the video created for the #OurStories campaign was also screened during the ceremony.
🎥 Watch the video about the VOL Mentorink project:
The second video in the #OurStories campaign shows how the VOL Mentorink project supports incarcerated and recently released individuals in developing their potential and actively addressing their problems and attitudes — to prevent their return behind bars. Currently, 150 clients from five Czech prisons are involved in the mentoring program. The project works with individuals approximately six months before release and continues with them for another six months after release. The project is supported by the Norway Grants under the Justice Programme.
The VOL Mentorink project focuses on supporting people in prison, whose reintegration into society is often a challenging journey. With the help of mentors and professional staff, clients rebuild trust, work habits, and family ties, significantly reducing the risk of reoffending. The project is a strong example of good practice in restorative justice, social inclusion, and interdisciplinary cooperation.
Receiving this award is both an honor and a commitment to continue our work with full dedication. We thank everyone involved in the project — our partners, mentors, prison staff, and the clients themselves.
“We are pleased that we had the opportunity to introduce and test mentoring through the VOL Mentorink project, and we continue to use this method even after the project’s end,” said Ing. Zuzana Bejó during the award acceptance.
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