This article was written from the point of view of Livia Rosca, GWMD coordinator at Alternative Sociale
3 September 2026, Vaslui Penitentiary (Romania) — The day began with the team carefully preparing the room to host the game and setting up a warm, welcoming environment for the families. Staff members from the Reintegration Sector of Vaslui Penitentiary actively participated alongside our team throughout the event, offering constant support and ensuring a smooth, inclusive experience.
When the parents entered the room, the atmosphere instantly transformed into one of excitement and profound emotional warmth. A key priority of this session was full inclusion and accessibility. Among the participants were a child with a mental development delay and an imprisoned parent who was visually impaired. To ensure that both of them could actively join in without any barriers, the team tailored and modified several games. Tactile cues, guided orientation and adapted group dynamics allowed the visually impaired parent to fully participate, hold hands, and play alongside their child, while the supportive structure enabled the child with developmental delays to engage comfortably at their own pace.
The activities started with interactive games that helped break the ice, including ball-dribbling slalom, target-shooting competitions and friendly matches with bolas and frisbees—all adapted so every parent and child could compete and enjoy together. Following these energetic activities, families gathered for a well-deserved snack break with sandwiches and water, giving them a peaceful moment to talk, reconnect and share quality time.
After the break, the session resumed with an adapted group game inspired by Squid Game: holding hands, participants moved to music around the room and froze completely when the music stopped, generating bursts of laughter and suspense. The program concluded with an agility and focus game, where participants switched sides across a central line according to facilitator commands.
At the end of the day, each child went home with a special gift from us—a custom frisbee branded with the project’s name. The event stood as a true testament to inclusion, proving that empathy, thoughtful adaptation and care can overcome physical and cognitive barriers to bring families 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 Romania, GWMD is implemented by Alternative Sociale, an NGO working in Romania to raise awareness on issues resulting from the interaction of children with the justice system.
