Board games in prison: an explorative case study
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Abstract
This article examines the “Giocare Dentro” project, an Italian initiative that introduced board games into the prison system as an educational practice. Developed by Gabriele Mari and his team, the project aims to use board games to promote cognitive, emotional, and social skills among people in prison. Despite the restrictive and isolating nature of the prison setting, a closed institution marked by marginalisation, over the years board games have proven to promote communication, self-reflection, and conflict management. Where the penitentiary educational approach views education as serving disciplinary purposes, the project offers a different perspective, using play as a form of empowerment and personal growth. Through a structured interview with Mari, this case study highlights the complexities and potential of a board game-based project in prison, providing important insights on how to replicate the experience in other prison contexts.
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