“The match was beautiful because I spent a lot of time with dad.” These are the words of Karen, a 6-year-old girl whose father is in prison serving a final sentence. It is the pure testimony of the profound meaning that the “Children without bars” initiative has, as part of which this morning a football match was held in Asti prison on the pitch inside the structure where the inmates competed with their sons and daughters. Of all ages and all footballing levels. Because calling it a match is actually a bit misleading. In this match, to which mothers are also admitted, the goals are not counted with the balls that end up in the net, but with the smiles and moments of leisure in which one forgets that one is inside a prison and in which the sons and daughters they have a chance to do something fun with their incarcerated fathers. Not just conversations in the designated rooms, but a run on the lawn, physical contact, arms in the air when the boys score a free goal (and who knows why they always win).
All under the discreet surveillance of the Penitentiary Police who, more than others, recognize the emotional value, for the prisoners, of these family meetings which are a little different from the usual.
Today playing on the field the team of prisoners was made up of prisoners from Campania and Calabria and that of the children was very varied especially in terms of age, with a 4 year old who wore his yellow t-shirt and did not stop running after the ball with his dad.
As at any self-respecting match, health care was also guaranteed thanks to the presence of a team of Red Cross rescuers and among the public also the two new educators and the coordinator Monica Olivero. Beppe Passarino, president of the Effatà association made up of volunteers who are committed to humanising the prison as much as possible, is satisfied.
The football pitch inside the prison facility is well maintained and is in great demand by the inmates, so much so that until last year it was only opened in spring and summer while from this year it will be open all year round, with shifts to accommodate all sections.
Sport is also recognized as an important activity for inmates by the deputy commander of the Penitentiary Police, Inspector Luciano Scidà who has taken an active part in activating a project to train inmate coaches in collaboration with the Italian Football Coaches Association.
«An internal tournament is planned which will start in early July between the 6 sections present in the prison and another 4 which will be open to external players. Local health authorities and the Red Cross have already signed up – explains Beppe Passarino – We then participated in some calls for sports and health and another specific one for sports in prisons with local partners. The aim is to guarantee the presence of an instructor in the prison gym which today is frequented by around seventy inmates and is equipped with equipment that we have purchased over the years”.
The program for a first aid course on the use of the defibrillator agreed with the Red Cross is also ready, at the end of which two prisoners per section will be qualified to use the AED.
