17 October 2026, Guarda (Portugal) — Guarda Prison was one of the establishments to record the highest levels of participation on the day dedicated to the “Game With Mum & Dad” project, with strong involvement from imprisoned fathers, accompanying family members and the children taking part. A total of 41 children and 16 imprisoned fathers participated in the event.
Among the most memorable moments were the acts of solidarity between imprisoned parents themselves. Some bought food from the prison canteen to contribute to the shared snack at the end of the activity. One father, who was unable to receive a visit from his daughters, went a step further by making available the work vans belonging to his family, who support him on the outside, to collect families who would otherwise have been unable to attend due to a lack of transport.
“I love my dad so much that he doesn’t fit in my heart.” — participating child
Family members also played an essential role. Where mothers couldn’t accompany their children, aunts, uncles and older siblings stepped in to help children on their journeys to the prison.
The day also made something possible that is not always feasible due to restrictions on the number of visitors allowed. One family was able to come together in its entirety for the first time since the father’s imprisonment. His wife brought their four children to the visit.
The day was made even more special by the celebration of one child’s birthday, adding another reason to smile and creating a memorable moment to share with family.
The distance separating some of these families from their imprisoned relatives was also evident, with visitors travelling from places such as Coimbra, Viseu and Lisbon.
One of the most moving moments of the day was the farewell between a young girl and her father. The child cried intensely and found it very difficult to bring the visit to an end.
The farewell was hard, as it always is. But the day showed that when prisons, families and communities work together, children can have what every child needs: time with their parents, and a reason to look forward to the next visit. This is why the GWMD project exists. For a few hours in Guarda, the prison visiting room became a place where children could simply play with their parents, and where families separated by distance and walls could be together.
This event was part of Game with Mum & Dad, a project coordinated by Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) across Europe. 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.
In Portugal, GWMD is implemented by CASPAE, an NGO that supports people’s inclusion in society. Among its projects are initiatives that promote the rights of children with imprisoned parents.
