On 3 May, Coimbra Prison (Portugal) opened its gates to host the first Game with Mum & Dad (GWMD) event to take place in Portugal.
For the first time in Coimbra, 25 children and 9 parents were reunited on the prison grounds to play korfball, a mixed-gender sport played by hand where the goal is to shoot a ball through a basket. Although everyone played, the rules of the game were naturally diluted, because the most important thing was to be together.
GWMD is an European project carried out by Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) following the model devised by the Italian NGO Bambinisenzasbarre, who for 20 years has been working to pursue the primary objective of ‘maintaining the bond between children and imprisoned parents’ (a right enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child). The project consists in organising football games or other sports on prison grounds between children and their imprisoned parents, with the aim to strengthen their bond and humanise prisons systems to better account for children’s needs. It is a much-awaited moment of normality and closeness which opens prison doors to prisoners’ relatives, overcoming the barriers created by imprisonment.
The physical presence, playful atmosphere and shared glances between children and parents re-established bonds often strained or weakened by separation. “It was a totally different visit,” said one caregiver. “We don’t usually get close, we can’t hug each other. I think this initiative should happen once a month, especially for the children. Today I know that when I get home, the conversation will be about this visit.“
Two of the key components of the GWMD project are the talk circles (involving all the stakeholders of the project, such as children, their parents, families and prison officers) and the training sessions held with the selected imprisoned parents ahead of the games, with the aim of getting them actively and consciously involved in the proposed dynamic.
In Coimbra, this preparatory moment proved to be essential for aligning expectations, motivating the participants and reinforcing the awareness that, more than a game, this action represented a symbolic and real opportunity to reconnect with their families, promoting respect and emotional responsibility. For one father, the event was filled with firsts: “My youngest son is 2 years old, I had never seen him run before!” he shared. And for a 9-year-old child, the day was all about simple joys: “I would like it to happen more often. I really enjoyed hugging my grandfather. Normally we just look at him and talk, separately.”
After the game there were snacks, prepared by the organising team from the Coimbra prison, CASPAE and those serving a sentence in prison, as well as souvenirs for children consisting of a bag with sweets, a balloon, a bracelet, tubes of soap bubbles and the GWMD t-shirt, as a reminder of the day.
This first event of GWMD in Portugal not only marked a meaningful moment of reconnection for the participating families, but also opened the door to a deeper collaboration with Coimbra Prison. It brings hope that similar activities will be organised more frequently, helping embed more child-friendly practices within prisons. By focusing on empathy and the rights of the child, GWMD continues to show how implementing change within prison walls is possible.
CASPAE is a Portuguese NGO, and member of the COPE network, which promotes social welfare initiatives aimed at empowering individuals, enhancing their well-being and supporting their inclusion in society. Among its various activities, CASPAE carries out projects dedicated to promoting the rights of children with imprisoned parents.
