We Are Family 2025: A Day We Spent Together as a Family

V sobotu 12. dubna 2025 proběhl ve Věznici Rýnovice již čtvrtý ročník akce Jsme rodina, kterou pořádá Vězeňská služba ČR a VOLONTÉ CZECH, za podpory Žluté stužky. Cílem této pravidelné akce je umožnit setkání dětí s odsouzenými rodiči v bezpečném a přívětivém prostředí, kde mohou společně sdílet čas, posilovat rodinné vztahy a zažít něco výjimečného.

An Easter-Themed Family Day

This year’s event was held in the spirit of Easter. Incarcerated parents prepared a play about animals on a farm for their children. In addition to the performance, children enjoyed arts and crafts, themed games, and other activities. The time spent together brought joy, emotions, and many powerful moments for everyone involved.

Most of the participating inmates are involved in the VOLONTÉ CZECH community group as part of the VOL Rodinu (Project registration number: CZ.03.02.02/00/22_017/0000254) project. Special thanks go to Rýnovice Prison, which has been actively involved in many VOLONTÉ CZECH projects and continues to create space for meaningful cooperation. Thanks to their supportive approach, work with the families of inmates can truly have a lasting impact.

Source: VOLONTÉ CZECH o.p.s. a Liberecký deník

Voices from the Organizers

“Our goal is to strengthen family bonds between inmates and their children. Family can be a powerful motivator for positive change in a person’s life. Events like this play a major role in the resocialization process and help reduce the negative effects of incarceration on children,” said Tina Chlupáčová, project and family day coordinator for VOLONTÉ CZECH.

“We’ve been organizing family days in various prisons for many years and continue to support the families of inmates. We fully intend to keep doing this work, because every shared moment, every hug or smile has immense power—and can be the beginning of real change. Thanks to events like this, we see that a second chance is not just a phrase, but a real path forward,” added Lukáš Salivar, Director of VOLONTÉ CZECH.

Support from Public Figures

The event was also supported by Barbora Černošková, a well-known TV presenter and patron of the Yellow Ribbon Run. Her warm presence contributed to the day’s atmosphere and highlighted the importance of maintaining contact between incarcerated parents and their children, even during imprisonment.

Sharing the Experience On Air

After the event, Barbora Černošková visited the studio of Czech Radio – Radiožurnál, where she shared her impressions live on air and invited the public to join the Yellow Ribbon Run 2025. This opportunity helped reach a broader audience and brought attention to the importance of supporting families of incarcerated individuals—and of building real second chances.

The Power of Human Moments

One particularly powerful moment came at the end of the day, when a young woman approached the organizers to express her gratitude. She called the day a deeply moving experience, not just for her child, but for herself as well. Moments like these confirm the value and impact of this work.

Strengthening Family Bonds

For VOLONTÉ CZECH, activities like this represent a core part of their long-term work with the target group. Helping children maintain or rebuild trust and connection with their parent in prison is a key step toward successful reintegration—and toward the overall stability of the family unit.