Over 100 people with disability attended the launch of the ME2! Cooperative which will be creating more awareness among employers and providing more work opportunities for people with disability. The cooperative will be run by people with disability.
Justice Minister Chris Said praised the initiative and said that on Monday, 23 April, the government will be presenting the Guardianship Act for the first reading in Parliament.
This law will allow for the appointment of a guardian to represent people with disability. It will also introduce new concepts including a mechanism that identifies and addresses the needs of people with disability. This new law will also be establishing a board whose roles will include the regulation of how these custody orders are granted and maintained; gives the right of appeal from decisions taken by the board; and affords a clear direction particularly in cases where the custody involves administration of money or property.
Sina Bugeja, chief executive officer of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, referred to the lack of work opportunities for people with disability and how this cooperative will contribute so that these people will be in a better position to find employment. Ms Bugeja said that employment provides the person with dignity as well as with the opportunity to show abilities and potential. She emphasised that the Foundation, through Aġenzija Sapport, will continue working so that people with disability are better integrated and have an active role within society, both for their benefit and for the people around them.
The ME2! Cooperative is the result of a project co-financed by the European Social Fund – ME2! has been coordinated since 2009 by Aġenzija Sapport, in collaboration with the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) and the National Commission Persons with Disability (KNPD).
The main aim of the Me2! project is to assist people with disability develop their skills, and thus improve their prospects of work. Initially, the project aimed at targeting 230 people with disability. Eventually 430 people with disability were reached. For more information about this project, visit www.sapport.gov.mt.