“I haven’t seen my dad since January. It’s been almost eight months. I try not to think about him being in prison and try to support my mum. When dad gets out, we’ll play football and spend time together.” – Boy, 14 years old
The third edition of the European Game with Mum & Dad (GWMD) project officially kicked off at Rapotice Prison in Czechia on 30 May 2026.
Implemented locally by Mezinárodní vězeňské společenství (Prison Fellowship Czech Republic – MVS), GWMD is an international initiative that gives children the opportunity to play sports games with their imprisoned parents inside prison grounds. For a few hours, prison becomes a place where families can interact naturally, replacing the limitations of traditional prison visits with shared moments and play.
The project is coordinated at the European level by Children of Prisoners Europe, who follows the model originally developed in Italy by member organisation and NGO, Bambinisenzasbarre. The project was inspired by the words of a child during a prison visit in 2015: “When you come home, we will play football together.” That simple sentence prompted an equally simple question: “Why wait? Let’s play now. In prison.”
Since then, the initiative has grown into an international movement supporting children with imprisoned parents. Between 2024 and 2025 alone, Game with Mum & Dad reached more than 3,400 children and 2,300 imprisoned parents across 13 countries. In 2025, the project expanded beyond Europe for the first time, with two related events taking place in Argentina and India. The project was joined by the first female FIFA referee from the Czech Republic Alice Vevodova, former polish football player Jakub Błaszczykowski and many Italian sports clubs.
More than sport games: GWMD is about children’s rights
The project’s ambition extends far beyond a single day of play for families. GWMD seeks to transform the way prisons engage with children and families by promoting child-friendly visiting environments, breaking down barriers and encouraging institutions and prison administrations to recognise the needs and rights of children with imprisoned parents. By humanising prison spaces and strengthening family relationships, the project contributes to the well-being of both children and imprisoned parents.
In the long-term, GWMD also serves as a platform for advocacy at both European and international levels, encouraging policymakers and prison authorities to implement the systemic changes needed to better protect and uphold the rights of children affected by parental imprisonment.
“GWMD is exceptional not only because it allows families to spend significantly more time together than during regular prison visits, but also because of its wide range of games, sports activities and shared experiences. The aim is for both children and their imprisoned parents to take away as many positive memories and joyful moments as possible. Shared experiences are often what families miss most during separation. At the same time, they are crucial for maintaining a close relationship between child and parent during imprisonment and significantly contribute to preserving family bonds despite a difficult life situation,”
says Žaneta Dvořáčková, Deputy Director of MVS.
The 2026 calendar of events
Joining the 2026 edition alongside Czechia are Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Romania, with additional countries expected to join throughout the year. The full calendar of Game with Mum & Dad events is available on the project’s website.
As GWMD enters its third European edition, the project continues to demonstrate that small changes in prison can have a meaningful impact on children and the way they perceive prisons. By creating opportunities for meaningful interaction and advocating for more child-centred prison policies, the initiative is helping to ensure that every child, regardless of their parent’s circumstances, has the opportunity to preserve their relationships with their parents, essential to their development and well-being.
