15th October 2004
In mid-October, an initiative was launched in the Netherlands to have volunteers from the Exodus Foundation accompany children on prison visits to imprisoned fathers, as part of an extended visits program operating in four of the nation’s prisons: De Geerhorst, Roermond, Rotterdam and Krimpen a/d IJssel. Approximately seventeen volunteers are now accompanying some 40 children aged 3 to 16 to visit their imprisoned fathers on a regular basis, for extended visits of two hours. The visits take place in special child-friendly rooms. At Roermond, for example, children visit with fathers in a room equipped with games and other activities and have access to a gymnasium, where they can engage in sports together. Exodus Foundation is financing travel costs and insurance, and the work is done in close collaboration with the Probation Service. There are plans to extend the initiative to Overmaze Prison in Maastricht in early 2005.