29 August 2026, Trzebinia (Poland) — The day started with rain at the MKS Trzebinia stadium, but that did not stop the football match from going ahead.
12 children and 9 fathers imprisoned at Trzebinia Prison came together for another Game with Mum & Dad family event, organised by Probacja in cooperation with Trzebinia Prison. Around 20 other family members also joined them for the day.
More than a football match
Football was at the centre of the day, but the match was only part of what brought families together.
Kacper Ślusarek, coach at the MKS Trzebinia Football Academy, led the warm-up and match, encouraging the children and fathers to play together while keeping the focus on fair play. The Małopolski Football Association also supported the event, represented by Józef Cichoń, President of the Chrzanów District Football Association.
The game gave fathers and children a chance to interact in a setting where conversation could happen naturally — while passing the ball, during breaks and while cheering on each others. For families affected by imprisonment, these everyday moments of interaction are rare, and therefore become very special in this context.
Then came the rain.
But rather than cancel the match, children and parents were to enthusiastic and decided to continue as planned. Luckily, the weather soon cleared, and the rest of the afternoon could continue outside.
From the field to the picnic table
Once the football game was over, the group gathered for refreshments. The pace slowed down, leaving more room for conversations between fathers, children and other family members. The time after the game gave them an opportunity to stay together, talk and share a meal without the focus being on the prison setting.
The refreshments were made possible with support from the local bakery Piekarnia Gala, the Krakow Food Bank and private donors.
The Trzebinia event is part of the ongoing cooperation between Probacja and Trzebinia Prison. Through Game with Mum & Dad, sport and shared activities are used to create opportunities for children and their imprisoned parents to spend meaningful time together and maintain their family relationships.
As with previous GWMD gatherings in Poland, the Trzebinia event highlighted Probacja’s determination to embed the initiative within prison culture. By combining play, sport and shared experiences, GWMD not only strengthens family bonds and supports children’s wellbeing, but also encourages prison administrations to adopt a child-rights perspective and create environments where family relationships are actively valued.
