Id-Dar tal-Providenza opens new home in Żurrieq for persons with disability

Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Aging, Dr Justyne Caruana inaugurated the fourth home that Id-Dar tal-Providenza will have in the community, this time in Żurrieq. In the home, that was named ‘Shalom’, there will be five residents with disability aided by their live-in carers. The other three homes are ‘Żerniq’ in Siġġiewi, ‘Akkwarell’ in Qawra and ‘Dar Pirotta’ in Birkirkara.

In his welcoming speech, the Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Fr Martin Micallef said that this home, in the heart of the beautiful community of Żurrieq and in a dignified environment that respects their rights, is being offered to persons with disability that wish to live in it and that like everyone else have the right to live in the community, be part of it and participate fully in its daily life.
Fr Martin continued to say that this house will welcome five persons with disability and it is hoped that within the coming weeks they will be identified in conjunction with Aġenzija Sapport. With this addition, Id-Dar tal-Providenza will have a total of twenty-one persons enjoying this service within the community.
The opening of this home would not have been possible without the generous support of the people of Malta and Gozo. Thanks to their donations during the Feast of Generosity organised by Radio RTK, the Volleyball Marathon, other various initiatives as well as personal donations that pour in on a daily basis, Id-Dar tal-Providenza could venture into this important and needed investment.
Fr Martin also thanked the Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Aging, Dr Justyne Caruana for her unstinted support that resulted in the goverment binding itself to provide financial help for the next ten years to sustain the individual service of support that the residents of ‘Shalom’ are going to need.

In a speech she gave before officially inaugurating the home, Justyne Caruana spoke about the project Soċjetà Ġusta (a Just Society) formed by the government to ensure that no one is left behind or emarginated including persons with disability. Through this project, the government is set to open ten homes in the community, the next one earmarked for Ħaz-Żabbar.

The Parliamentary Secretary said she gladly eccepted Fr Martin’s request for help for Id-Dar tal-Providenza to open its fourth home in the community. She said the government has passed on €300,000 to the Home in order to cover for and ensure that the services given to the residents of the Żurrieq home were to the highest standards as set by the government for residential homes like this one. Thus, like all other members of Maltese society, these residents will be able to be full participants in society with equal rights including that of being able to work.
Present for the ceremony was Fr Cyril Axelrod, the first catholic person in the world that was born deaf and became a priest. At the age of forty he was diagnosed with the Usher Syndrome that led to his loss of eyesight as well. Fr Cyril is in Malta to promote the publication in Maltese of his autobiography “And The Journey Begins” translated into Maltese by Fred Bezzina and entitled “U JIBDA l-Vjaġġ”. Fr Cyril, aided by his personal intepreter spoke about his personal experiences and then presented the Parliamentary Secretary, Justyne Caruana with a copy of his book.

The Episcopal Vicar for Diaconia, Mgr Charles Cordina delivered a short speech and then blessed the new home as well as the van that will be used by the residents.

Other speeches were made by the Opposition speaker for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Aging, Mr Robert Cutajar and the Mayor of Żurrieq, Mr Ignatius Farrugia.

8th April 2016