Mr Stephen Barbara

The Maltese Association of the Sovereign Order of Malta sponsors two fully accessible vans for residents of Id-Dar tal-Providenza

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The Maltese Association of the Sovereign Order of Malta has sponsored two fully accessible vans out of seven that Id-Dar tal-Providenza has invested in this year to ensure more accessibility for its residents. These vehicles are sixteen seater Tail Lift Coaches that can also accommodate up to six wheelchairs each. The President of the  Maltese Association, Marchesino Daniel de Petri Testaferrata presented the two vans to Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. He said that they were proud of the ongoing association with the Siġġiewi Home and just as proud that they are helping in some small way in increasing accessability for the residents leading to a better quality of life.

In a short address, Fr Martin emphasized that accessible transport for persons with disability offers them equal opportunities for social inclusion and employment options. He added that the shared vision at Id-Dar tal-Providenza is to have every resident involved while participating in the community. The participation and engagement requires having access to safe, available and accessible transport. The Home employs thirteen persons to help out in the transportation of its residents and they will therefore have more access participating in different aspects of their lives as equal citizens of our society.  The Home also benefits from free transport services provided by Agenzija Sapport for residents to be able to go regularly to Training Centres.

Fr Martin thanked The Maltese Association of the Sovereign Order of Malta for sponsoring the purchase and the running expenses in the coming years. It has always been of support to Id-Dar tal-Providenza in providing accessible transport and to seeing that some its residents take part in the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes.

The vans were blessed by Mgr Lawrence Gatt, Chaplain of the Maltese Association of the Sovereign Order of Malta and ex-Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza.