This article was written from the point of view of Rita Metzer, GWMD coordinator at Hoppenbank e.V.
28 November 2025, Bremen (Germany) — It was one of those days when the tension between walls and steel doors eases for a few hours – because that day was Game with Mum & Dad again. Footsteps echoed in the narrow corridor of the prison sports hall as I chatted with the fathers. I wanted to pick out the T-shirts for the children and ask about the ages of the participants.
The first father, a man with warm eyes, proudly told me about his five-year-old twins. ‘The two of them have so much energy, I can hardly keep up,’ he laughs. ‘And then I still have the older one, my wife.’
The second father beams as he talks about his three-year-old daughter. ‘She really wanted to come back as a princess.’ He shakes his head, still moved by the memory. I remember the two of them too and am happy that they have the opportunity to participate again.
The third father talks about his two children, aged two and four, who are coming today – for the first time.
The last father is a little quieter, but his eyes light up when he talks about his eleven-year-old son. ‘He has no idea that his mother is bringing him today,’ he says quietly. ‘It’s a surprise visit. He loves sports… I hope he’s going to be happy.’ When the doors open and the families stream into the hall, the sports hall is transformed into a place full of laughter and hugs. The fathers kneel down to embrace their little ones, while the mothers are also warmly welcomed.
The twins’ father hugs both children at the same time, and they giggle as they almost lose their balance.
A little later, the hall is full of activity. The eleven-year-old plays every sport the hall has to offer – basketball, football, badminton. His father laughs as he struggles to keep up, and in the end, both are standing there with bright red faces, as the mother has also been actively joining in the fun. ‘I can’t do it anymore,’ gasps the father. ‘I can! One more round!’ shouts his son, dribbling past his father.
Meanwhile, the little ones romp around the course. They slide down the bench that has been converted into a slide, tumble softly onto the mats and squeal with delight.
Their fathers stand close by, stretching out their hands, catching their children, helping them climb and laughing with them. It is a picture full of trust, care and rare light-heartedness.
The twins’ father calls out, ‘Not so fast down there!’ – but can’t help laughing as they happily tumble towards him.
“My children benefit greatly from spending time like this together, which in turn has a positive impact on their everyday lives and at school.” — imprisoned father
At the end of the afternoon, when their faces are red and their hair is tousled, everyone gathers in the middle of the hall. I secretly hand the fathers small medals – simple gold circles on colourful ribbons. ‘I think your dads have something else for you,’ I say. With a seriousness that seems almost festive, the fathers hang the medals around their children’s necks. The twins jump up and down proudly. The fathers smile – tired, moved and fulfilled.
“It made me forget for a moment that we are isolated from our family.” — imprisoned father
An afternoon that was much more than just a match day: a moment of closeness that will remain in their memories and carry the fathers a little way into the Christmas season.
This event was the third Game with Mum & Dad (GWMD) event in Bremen in 2025. It has been organised by COPE member Hoppenbank e.V., an ngo working to protect the rights of children with imprisoned parents in Germany. GWMD is a project organised across Europe by Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) and made possible with the support of the European Commission and UEFA Foundation for Children. It follows a model created and developed by Bambinisenzasbarre, which works nationwide in Italy. The Project aims to strengthen, maintain and enhance the bond between children and their imprisoned parents, and to generate systemic, child rights–based change across prison systems.
