At 38, Dennis Cremona thought he would be teaching his two children how to ride bikes and do up their school ties.

But as an inmate of the Corradino Correctional Facility his parental privileges have been stripped to weekly 45-minute meetings through protective glass or under the watchful eyes of prison guards.

“I barely bring my children here, this place isn’t suited for them. But they don’t think about that. They just feel that their daddy is missing from their lives,” he told Times of Malta in the prison’s administration building.

But things are about to get better. Mr Cremona, whose three-year sentence will come to an end in December, formed part of a team of 14 inmates who volunteered to build and decorate a new children’s play area.

The room, inaugurated by Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia, will allow children to visit their incarcerated parents in a safe environment. Mr Cremona said that, as a former builder, he was well suited for the job.

“In prison, time is your biggest enemy. I used to do this work on the outside. It was my trade. It was a good initiative and I felt like I was giving something back by doing it,” he said.

The room, located behind the old prison building, is packed with toys and board games as well as soft floor padding and crafts utilities.

Mr Cremona hoped the space would save others the difficulties he faced with his children.

“I used to tell my children I was in here for work. Now that they are growing up I can’t say that anymore... they would ask me what all the people in uniforms were doing here,” he said, choking up as his stoic stare plastered over his feelings of despair.

The playroom was not the only new project at the prison.

Assistant operations manager Mark Pellicano said others included a music room, a new autonomous female section and a new division for inmates who offer community services outside the facility.

The prison’s educational facility will also see a new complement of full-time teachers after attendance figures rose to 90 regular students. In fact, Mr Pellicano said the 628 inmates had participated in several different rehabilitation activities.

On his part Dr Mallia expressed his commitment to promoting rehabilitation. This, he said, was the main purpose of any correctional facility.

“Working here to better oneself is a noble endeavour. We all make mistakes but I believe we can all realise our potential,” he said.