By Children of Prisoners Europe | Organisation
Highlights from the 2025 edition of the Game with Mum & Dad project
As 2025 comes to an end, the GWMD project continues to strengthen the bond between children and their prents in prison and raise awareness on children affected by parental imprisonment. The project has been offering children quality moments of play and physical closeness with their parent in prison through simple sport activities, that are exceptional on prison grounds. So far this year, GWMD has reached 1,916 children, 1,291 imprisoned parents and 1,436 caregivers across 8 participating countries — Italy, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, France, India and UK (Scotland).
Prison staff reflect on the impact of GWMD in Romania
Beyond the numbers, GWMD has contributed to a shift in how prisons, families and communities understand the importance of maintaining family ties when a parent goes to prison. More prisons joined the initiative this year, showing how a small, local event can grow into a nationwide, even international, effort that brings lasting, systemic change — embedding the rights and needs of children with imprisoned parents into the very fabric of prison and justice systems.
The GWMD event at Vaslui Prison in Romania on October 11 — organised by COPE member Alternative Sociale — left a lasting impression on prison staff. “It doesn’t matter who wins,” commented one prison officer. “For them, the real victory is simply being next to each other.” Another observed how children patiently and lovingly guided their parents through games, while parents responded with attention and closeness. For prison staff, these moments made children’s needs visible in a new way and highlighted the importance of the child-parent bond, cultivating a more compassionate, attentive and human-centered culture among those who care for the prison community every day.
Involvement of football associations
Strategic collaborations with football associations, media outlets and local partners have amplified the project’s visibility. In Poland, for example, the organising NGO Probacja partnered with the Maopolska Football Association, a collaboration that attracted the interest of TVN, one of Poland’s major television channels. They also partnered with Jakub Baszczykowski, a famous Polish professional footballer, now retired, who was himself affected by parental imprisonment. Such partnerships not only broadened media visibility but also demonstrated how sport can act as a powerful entry point for raising awareness about children affected by parental imprisonment and their rights.
Some feedback from participants in 2025 edition
“I'm very happy to be able to hug my dad and play with him, even if it's here in prison!”— child, 13 years old, Portugal, 3 May
“Yesterday, I appreciated once again the meaning of being human. When I wake up, I feel chained. But yesterday, I felt free. I felt like I had wings.” —imprisoned father, Italy, 9 June
“I finally got quality time to talk with my mother, unlike in the usual short meetings.” – child, India, 7 March
“During these events, I’ve had more time with my son than ever before. I’ve been able to get to know him better and build a stronger bond.” — imprisoned father, Germany, 29 August
“The only thing you could improve is to make meetings longer.” — child, Poland, 10 August
“The time with Dad is so nice! And we can try everything in the hall!” — child, Germany, 29 August
More games are planned for the remaining two months of 2025.
The 2025 edition of GWMD reaffirmed the project’s value as an effective tool for maintaining family relationships and promoting the well-being of children with imprisoned parents. With more events in the remaining two months of 2025, the initiative is set to deepen its impact even further. By combining structured activities, cross-sectoral partnerships and positive feedback, GWMD continues to demonstrate how simple, well-designed interventions can make a measurable difference for families affected by imprisonment.
By Children of Prisoners Europe | Organisation
By Children of Prisoners Europe | Organisation
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