By Livia Roșca, GWMD coordinator at Alternative Sociale
20 October 2025, Botoșani (Romania) — Just like in the other “Game with Mum & Dad” events across Romania, the cold and rainy weather moved the GWMD activities indoors. But even if the sun was missing, the room was filled with light — a light brought by reunions and a story that marked the entire day: an 11-year-old girl met her father for the very first time in real life.
The children arrived first, whispering among themselves, curious and excited. Among them was a girl who kept her eyes fixed on the door through which the parents were about to enter. For her, this day was more than a reunion — it was a first meeting. Until then, she had only seen her father through video calls, always separated by a screen.
When the door opened, the entire room fell silent. The girl froze, then took a few steps forward, faster and faster. The father stood still, uncertain. She approached, looked at him for a second and then ran into his arms. He hesitated for a moment, then wrapped his trembling hands around her.
“I never thought it would feel like this,” he said quietly later. “You know she’s your child… but when you hold her, it’s different. It’s real.”
After the first minutes filled with emotion, the activities began. Parents and children formed mixed teams and took part in some sport games: passing the ball between cones, throwing frisbees and bolas games. The small indoor space quickly filled with voices, laughter and movement.
“At first, everyone seemed tense — especially the parents who hadn’t seen their children in a long time,” shared one staff member from Alternative Sociale. “But after a few minutes, everything changed. It was as if the room had filled with light.”
The girl and her father stayed together throughout the entire program. They moved carefully, like two people learning to know each other. She showed him the route, corrected him when he missed and he listened closely, smiling with quiet tenderness.
“She didn’t let go of his hand even for a moment,” said one of the team members. “It wasn’t about the games anymore. It was about making up for lost time.”
During the breaks, parents and children sat next to each other, speaking briefly, without formality. Some children leaned on their parents’ shoulders; others drew circles on the floor with their shoes. The atmosphere was calm, full of small, natural gestures that said more than words ever could.
By the end of the activities, the parents were talking more freely, the children were smiling with confidence, and the room resonated with energy and connection.
When the time came to say goodbye, silence returned. The girl hugged her father tightly and whispered something only for him. He smiled softly, eyes wet and nodded. She looked at him once more, then slowly walked toward the door, turning around just once.
“I don’t think she’ll ever forget this day,” one of the organisers whispered.
This event was the first Game with Mum & Dad (GWMD) event in Botoșani. It was organised by COPE member Alternative Sociale, an ngo working to protect the rights of children with imprisoned parents in Romania. GWMD is a project organised across Europe by Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) and made possible with the support of the European Commission and UEFA Foundation for Children. It follows a model created and developed by Bambinisenzasbarre, which works nationwide in Italy. 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.
