Football training session before the GWMD event (© Exodus Nederland)
On Wednesday and Thursday 30 and 31 October, the ‘Game with Mum & Dad’ project was hosted at the Penitentiary Institutions in Veenhuizen and Nieuwegein (the Netherlands). ‘Game with Mum & Dad’ is a worldwide campaign organised by Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE), following the model pioneered and developed by its member working in italy Bambinisenzasbarre.
The games took place during the yearly four-day autumn camp organised by COPE member Exodus for children and parents impacted by imprisonment.
Preparations ahead of the games
The day before the games, children gathered in small groups and learned about the GWMD event and shared their thoughts on what makes a game fair and fun. The rules they devised were simple:
- No anger if you lose
- No hitting or kicking (to which one young boy replied ‘but we can still kick the ball, right?’)
- Be kind to each other
- Celebrate by pulling your shirt up, high-fives and hugs (with your dad!)
These rules became a promise—a shared understanding that this wasn’t just about football; it was about creating memories.
“I loved playing soccer and making crafts together with my daddy.
And we were also in the same team!
— Girl, 8 years old
Morning on the field
On the day of the game, children eagerly explained to their fathers the rules they had set, and the fathers agreed nodding, even laughing about celebratory ‘shirt-up’ if a goal was scored.
Then came the football training session. Trainers from FC Emmen and FC Utrecht guided the families through drills—practicing speed, agility, and ball control. The atmosphere was lighthearted, with plenty of shared jokes.
When the games began, the field came alive. Families played side by side, shouting encouragement, sharing high-fives, and celebrating small victories.
These two days weren’t just about the goals scored or the saves made; it was about the moments in between. Fathers crouching to tie their children’s shoes. Children shouting strategies to their dads.
And this is the main purpose of the GWMD events: to nurture the all-important emotional connection between parents and their children, a bond that often struggles to flourish in prison settings.
Even the mascot joined the fun and all the children wanted to have their picture taken with it. Each child left with a club t-shirt as a tangible reminder of the day they played as a team with their dad.
Child scoring a goal during GWMD (© Exodus Nederland)
Post-event reflections
During the week’s reflection sessions, many children named the football event as the highlight of their camp experience. Staff at the penitentiary facilities echoed the sentiment, calling the event an absolute success.
‘Watching the fathers and children connect through something so simple was incredible,’ one prison staff shared. ‘This is something we have to do again next year.’
The event was highlighted in a segment on a local Dutch radio station, NPO Radio 1. You can listen to the broadcast here.
Exodus Nederland provides shelter and support to ex-prisoners and those in the final months of their imprisonment. Working closely with the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Correctional Institutions, facilitates monthly child-friendly visits to imprisoned parents through their Parents, Children and Detention Project.
