STP Course in Italy

In the complex context of Italian prisons, the Sycamore Project stands as an effective tool for mediation between victims and offenders. Promoted by Prison Fellowship Italy, this program aims to foster dialogue on the consequences of crime, promoting awareness, responsibility, and the possibility of a fresh start.

Inspired by the story of Zacchaeus, the Sycamore Project is structured into eight sessions that address topics such as personal responsibility, acknowledgment of harm caused, the value of forgiveness, and the importance of restitution. In this setting, victims and offenders, guided by expert facilitators, have the opportunity to engage in a respectful and constructive dialogue.

Recently, Vincenzo Albanese, a volunteer at Prison Fellowship Italy, participated in the Sycamore Project facilitator training course. His testimony provides an authentic insight into the positive impact of this journey. Here are his words:

“The Sycamore Project is a bridge connecting two pains, two sides of the same coin—victims and offenders—and it traces a path leading to forgiveness, a path to FREEDOM. My name is Vincenzo, and through the Sycamore Project facilitator course, which concluded today, I had the opportunity to experience three intense days of introspection, testimonies, and discovery of forgiveness. It was an intense training program masterfully led by Pierpaolo and Marcella, where my fellow trainees and I could witness firsthand, through our own stories, how those eight Sycamore sessions can transform into a guide toward freedom, toward genuine forgiveness— a thoughtful and deliberate choice that brings healing to the heart. Thank you.”

Vincenzo’s words clearly capture the essence of the Sycamore Project: a structured journey designed to foster conscious reflection on the consequences of crime, restoring dignity and hope to both offenders and victims.

The Sycamore Project is not a technical form of Restorative Justice but rather a form of surrogate mediation aimed at raising awareness and fostering responsibility among offenders. The eight sessions guide participants through:

• Analyzing the consequences of crime: understanding the harm caused to victims and the community.
• Recognizing personal responsibility: reflecting on one’s actions to promote change.
• Symbolic restitution: taking concrete actions that demonstrate a commitment to doing better.

Through this approach, the Sycamore Project contributes to:

• Reducing the risk of suicide: offering listening and personal growth pathways.
• Lowering recidivism rates: encouraging deep reflection on the consequences of one’s actions.
• Promoting social reintegration: preparing offenders to return to society with newfound awareness.

The success of the Sycamore Project lies in its ability to build an authentic dialogue between victims and offenders, facilitating a path of reconciliation and personal growth. Each session represents a step toward a more inclusive and rehabilitative prison system.

If you wish to support the Sycamore Project and other initiatives by Prison Fellowship Italy, you can do so through a donation. Every contribution is an investment in building a better future.

Support the Sycamore Project: https://www.prisonfellowshipitalia.it/donare/

With this article, we want to thank all the volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to this journey, the facilitators who lead the groups with expertise and passion, and all those who, like Vincenzo, believe that true justice lies in the possibility of a new beginning.