19 September 2026, Coimbra (Portugal)
“It was a very special moment for me and something I had wanted to do for a long time.”
These are the words of a child who took part in the Game With Mum and Dad (GWMD) event in Coimbra, a project led by Children of Prisoners Europe that brings children and their imprisoned parents together through play, games and shared activities, creating opportunities to enjoy time together and strengthen family bonds.
At Coimbra Prison, the 2026 edition was particularly meaningful as the project returned for a second year. For some families, it was a chance to experience the activity again, offering a reminder of how familiarity with the activity can help ease children’s anxiety and allow them to enjoy their time together more fully.
“The first time they were really anxious. This time, because they already knew, everything felt much lighter.”
— Family who had already participated in the GWMD event in Coimbra in 2025.
One family travelled from England because the child’s mother lives there. The child was accompanied by both grandmothers, making the reunion a particularly special family occasion. Initially, the child was very shy. However, as the activity progressed, their eyes lit up, and at the end they approached the team to offer a heartfelt hug and express their gratitude. The grandmothers also shared how special it had been to sit together as a family around a table and enjoy a snack.
Another unforgettable moment involved a child who declined the drawing activity but specifically requested to be recorded thanking the team for the opportunity to play with their father. The child spoke with tears in their eyes, demonstrating just how meaningful the experience had been.
“I really want to thank you so much for letting me play with my dad. It was a very special moment for me and something I had wanted to do for a long time”.
— participating child
These moments capture the essence of Game With Mum and Dad: creating opportunities for children to experience joy, affection and meaningful contact with their imprisoned parents, while strengthening family bonds.
As part of every activity, CASPAE, the local ngo who implements the project on behalf of COPE, prepared a bag of small gifts that imprisoned parents can give to their children. These bags include bubbles, a bracelet, a pen, sweets, a traditional children’s paper game called Quantos Queres? and a balloon.
The team presents these gifts as if they were presents from the parents themselves. This gesture is particularly meaningful because some imprisoned parents have limited financial means and may otherwise struggle to buy gifts for their children. The parents consistently express their gratitude, while the children are delighted to leave with something they can associate with their parents and the time they have shared.
Ultimately, the activity helped achieve one of the project’s most important objectives: creating positive memories for children and their imprisoned parents, despite the constraints of imprisonment.
