WILLEMSTAD – The Education, Training and Development Department (OVT) of the Curaçao Detention and Correction Center (SDKK) has successfully organized its first-ever Vacation Program, bringing together incarcerated parents and their children in an initiative aimed at strengthening family bonds.
The program was held over three Saturdays—July 18, July 25 and August 1—and brought together 17 incarcerated parents and 25 children between the ages of 3 and 13.
During the three-day program, the OVT department was transformed into a festive and welcoming environment where parents and children spent meaningful time together. Families participated in a variety of activities, including preparing hamburgers and arepitas, creating arts and crafts, playing team games, bingo and quizzes, sharing meals, and simply enjoying each other's company.
According to SDKK, the initiative was designed to reinforce and restore the relationship between parents and their children. Although a person may be incarcerated, the institution emphasized that their role as a mother or father remains vital to a child's development and well-being.
By creating a safe and positive setting where families could reconnect, SDKK said it is investing in stronger family relationships, rehabilitation and a more successful reintegration into society.
The final day of the program featured additional games and cooking activities, as well as a special birthday celebration for one of the participating children, who had the opportunity to celebrate with their father and the other families present.
To commemorate the experience, each parent and child received a certificate of participation, a framed family photograph and a backpack filled with school supplies.
The OVT department expressed its appreciation to all participants for helping make the program a success and thanked staff from the various SDKK departments who contributed their time, dedication and enthusiasm to organize the event.
According to SDKK, the Vacation Program demonstrates that rehabilitation is about more than education and behavioral change—it also involves preserving and strengthening family relationships.
"A strong relationship between parents and their children is an essential foundation for successful reintegration into our community," the institution said.
