The Hal Far Appogg Open Centre held an open day yesterday for the public to visit the newly refurbished flatlets that can house up to 180 residents.

The centre, which used to lodge Royal Air Force officers, is home to 160 residents from 16 African nations. Sixteen families are currently living there as well as 23 children under the age of 16, some of them newborns.

The newly refurbished premises include kitchenettes, restroom facilities, a doctor’s clinic, counselling room and administration offices, as well as new paving outside and a playing field.

The refurbishment of the centre was funded by the European Refugee Fund (ERF 2005), which is part-financed by the European Commission.

Appogg has embarked on another EU partially funded project, EQUAL, which offers vocational, guidance and counselling services to facilitate integration into society and its labour market. During the open day, a certificate of achievement was presented to 32 asylum seekers who successfully compiled a European CV that can be used when seeking employment.

Addressing the public, Joe Gerada, chief executive officer of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, said that without information there is no real integration. He explained that when people arrive in a country that is completely different to theirs, they have no points of reference and need as much information as possible. Thanks to EQUAL, asylum seekers are given an information pack containing basic information such as emergency numbers, contacts to several humanitarian organisations, basic words in Maltese, a Gozo Channel timetable and a bus route schedule.

Mr Gerada thanked the staff, which over the last three years has built up a very professional service. He commented that the country has only to gain from the cultural diversity provided by asylum seekers. He said that barriers, most of the time, are only perceived and do not actually exist.

Appogg focuses on doing social work with irregular immigrants, giving priority to pregnant women, children and their parents, people with a disability, and the elderly, and is responsible for unaccompanied minors. It has been operating this service since July 2004.