Over 150 people attended the “Game with Mum & Dad” at Bollate prison (Milan, Italy), where the eagerly awaited meeting between imprisoned parents and their children took place.
Taking part in the event were: 50 children, 24 fathers, 40 relatives, several prison police officers, Federica Pisani (Legal and Educational Officer at the Milanese institution), Alessandro Giungi (Milan City Councillor), former players Lucas Biglia and Gabriel Paletta, 2 representatives of the Milan Foundation, Marta Ghironi (coordinator for regional projects at Bambinisenzasbarre) and 4 professionals from the association who work within the institution.
This is one of the first events on the GWMD calendar in Italy for 2025, taking place in the very city where the first game was held in December 2015. That initial event was later transformed and implemented by Bambinisenzasbarre as a complete project, with its own well-established model. It is a project that takes place throughout the year and concludes with a game between children and their imprisoned parents.
‘This is the best visit of the year!’ — young girl, 7 years old
The “Game with Mum & Dad” has proved to be a particularly effective tool for maintaining, activating, consolidating and strengthening the bond between children and parents in prison, an objective that pursues the spirit of Article 9.3 of the UN Convention (UNCRC, New York, 20 November 1989).
The project begins with meetings inside the prison between the families of the imprisoned parents, followed by sessions with their children and then with the imprisoned parents themselves. It then expands outward in concentric circles (“talk circles”) to include prison officers and, often, the director. In this way, the whole prison is slowly — but systematically — mobilised. This mobilisation of the prison institution is another key objective of the GWMD project.
Returning to the detailed account of the event at the Milan-Bollate prison, the children waited for their fathers directly at the camp and welcomed them warmly upon their arrival. After greetings, shouts from the children and hugs, GWMD T-shirts were distributed, a well-established and symbolic moment that has always marked the event: blue for the fathers and yellow for the children.
Given the large number of participants, two “XL” teams were formed, with plenty of substitutes. The children’s team was reinforced by a few parents and two former players, Biglia and Paletta.
The game, refereed by Councillor Giungi, was played amid much laughter, some good-natured teasing of the clumsier adults, lots of hugs and cheering from the crowd. The final result saw a narrow victory for the children, who gave their fathers, who were a little out of shape, a run for their money.
‘You’re very strong, Dad, but not as a player!’ — young boy, 12 years old
At the end of the game, adults and children stormed the two former players, asking for autographs and souvenir photos. Then everyone moved to the green area of the Bollate prison where they had lunch (with gusto) and were able to spend more time together until 2 p.m. As always, there were many emotions as the fathers and children said goodbye. It was certainly a difficult moment for those who had to leave and for those who remained.
Thanks to Fondazione Milan, which provided some balls for the game and souvenir T-shirts for all participants.
In 2024 and continuing into 2025, on behalf of COPE (Children of Prisoners Europe, the main partner), Bambinisenzasbarre has organised — and continues to organise — the European version of “Partita con mamma e papà” (Game with Mum & Dad). The continental edition, supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children, was launched on 4 August 2024 at Krakow prison in Poland and has since included 17 projects/games in countries such as the Czech Republic, Germany, Portigal, Romania, the United Kingdom (Scotland) and the Netherlands. As in Italy, parents and their children wore specially designed T-shirts with the slogan: “Human rights begin with children’s rights”.
‘She waits all year for this meeting with her father.‘— mother of a 9-year-old girl
