In mid-October, the forth “Game with Mum & Dad” event of 2025 in Germany was held at Bremen Prison. Across Europe, the GWMD is coordinated by Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) and it is inspired by the model developed by Bambinisenzasbarre, an Italian association part of the COPE Network. In Germany GWMD is organised by

“It’s a small group today,” I say to my colleague. Six families had registered, but only four families were waiting at the gate of Bremen Prison. It’s October, the days are already quite cool and the children are already wearing winter jackets, hats and scarves. Two families had to cancel due to illness. I feel

Vaslui Prison — 11 October 2025. The sports hall of the Vaslui Sports High School filled with quick footsteps and unspoken emotions. For a few hours, the space became a place where children and their detained parents reconnected through the simplest shared language: play. The children arrived first. They sat quietly along the benches, holding their

Ich bin Sozialarbeiterin der Hoppenbank und durfte heute wieder mit einem schönen Anliegen in die Justizvollzugsanstalt Bremen. Heute war wieder „Game with Mum and Dad“, ein Spiel- und Begegnungstag für Inhaftierte und ihre Kinder. Vier Stunden, in denen Väter, die hier einsitzen, einfach nur Papa sein dürfen. Keine Gitter, keine Uniformen, kein Urteil im Raum

Bremen prison — 12 September 2025. “Daddy!” The word echoed across the sports hall of Bremen correctional facility as a three-year-old girl in a pink princess dress ran toward her father. The man, standing stiff and emotionless only moments before, dropped to his knees, opened his arms wide and held her tightly as she buried

At Jakub Błaszczykowski‘s* request, his participation in Game With Mum & Dad project was kept secret to prevent people coming only to meet him as a football star. He emphasised that he wanted to come for the children, to spend time with the families, spontaneously and without unnecessary attention.And that’s exactly what happened. When the