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Camouflage Nets Woven in Halfway Houses to Enhance the Safety of Ukrainian Defenders
On December 10, 12 and 18, the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) organised workshops in three Lithuanian halfway houses, located in Šiauliai, Kaunas district and Tauragė. During these workshops, CPVA invited the residents of halfway houses—prison inmates—to join forces in weaving camouflage nets for Ukrainian defenders.
The workshops brought together more than 120 participants, including inmates, halfway house staff, CPVA employees, volunteers, community members, neighbors and family members. This diverse group worked with a shared goal of creating something meaningful for Ukraine’s defense forces.
Two Ukrainian women from the Help Center for Ukrainians in Klaipėda guided the effort, teaching participants how to weave the camouflage nets correctly. Together, the group produced three 6-meter-long winter camouflage nets. These nets will soon be delivered to the front lines in Ukraine, where they will be used to hide combat vehicles from enemy surveillance.
Halfway houses provide a transitional space for inmates nearing the end of their sentences. Residents typically move to these facilities two years before their release. While living there, they are required to work and can spend weekends at home with their families.
Each halfway house usually hosts about 20 residents. Lithuania currently has nine such facilities. These houses were established through the European Economic Area and Norway Grants "Justice and Home Affairs" programme, managed by CPVA, and modeled on Norwegian practices.
These workshops went beyond crafting camouflage nets. They offered a rare opportunity for participants to connect with halfway house residents, learn about their routines and understand the rules they follow. Events like these help foster dialogue between residents and the wider community, breaking down barriers and building mutual understanding.
The workshops brought together more than 120 participants, including inmates, halfway house staff, CPVA employees, volunteers, community members, neighbors and family members. This diverse group worked with a shared goal of creating something meaningful for Ukraine’s defense forces.
Two Ukrainian women from the Help Center for Ukrainians in Klaipėda guided the effort, teaching participants how to weave the camouflage nets correctly. Together, the group produced three 6-meter-long winter camouflage nets. These nets will soon be delivered to the front lines in Ukraine, where they will be used to hide combat vehicles from enemy surveillance.
Halfway houses provide a transitional space for inmates nearing the end of their sentences. Residents typically move to these facilities two years before their release. While living there, they are required to work and can spend weekends at home with their families.
Each halfway house usually hosts about 20 residents. Lithuania currently has nine such facilities. These houses were established through the European Economic Area and Norway Grants "Justice and Home Affairs" programme, managed by CPVA, and modeled on Norwegian practices.
These workshops went beyond crafting camouflage nets. They offered a rare opportunity for participants to connect with halfway house residents, learn about their routines and understand the rules they follow. Events like these help foster dialogue between residents and the wider community, breaking down barriers and building mutual understanding.
About the Justice and Home Affairs programme:
The Justice and Home Affairs programme is strengthening the rule of law in Lithuania. Various measures of the programme increase the efficiency of the Lithuanian judiciary and prosecution service, improve the penal enforcement system, strengthen the competences of the judiciary and law enforcement authorities and inter-institutional cooperation in the field of domestic and gender-based violence, and improve the capacity of the police in fighting crime. In total, more than €40 million has been allocated to the programme for the period 2014-2021. The programme is operated by the CPVA and implemented in partnership with partners.