TDM Hands On! – a subsidiary of TDM 2000 Malta – on 4 September celebrated the successful completion of the voluntary project entitled Work Out: Promoting Exercise For All that aimed to renovate

and refurbish the Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Gymnasium at Id-Dar tal-Providenza.

Since January 2006, one of the members of TDM Hands On!, Paula Selvagi, who is a physiotherapy graduate, began working voluntarily with Id-Dar tal-Providenza.

After witnessing the state of the physiotherapy gym area, she proposed the renovation of this gym to the group, in order to create a more inclusive environment and one where the services provided to the residents of this institution are more well-rounded in their approach.

Speaking about how the idea for this project came about, Ms Selvagi said it “came from seeing the residents of Id-Dar tal-Providenza carrying out exercise classes in their flats, with obviously very limited space to exercise.”

The gym was re-opened during a formal event held on 4 September. Mgr Lawrence Gatt, director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, opened the event by thanking the main sponsors, namely TDM 2000 Malta, The National Lotteries Good Causes Fund and Ladies Circle Malta, as well as other supporting sponsors, and praised the good work produced by the TDM Hands On! team.

The event was attended by Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity Dolores Cristina, and Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech.

Both shared a few words, again speaking highly of the dedicated voluntary work TDM Hands On! put into the project.

Duncan Muscat, President of TDM 2000 Malta, spoke about the work done so far by this non-governmental organisation that promotes informal education for youths and voluntary work for charitable institutions, while Ms Paula Selvagi, who co-ordinated the project, explained that the gym “was designed to benefit all those residents who, despite their physical and intellectual disabilities, require exercise, in an exercise environment, as part of their physiotherapy treatment in order to better their condition and improve or maintain physical health.”

Renovation and refurbishment of the gym included:

• Structural works in the ceiling

• Reconstruction of outer wall

• Electrical works

• Sanding and painting the walls

• Replacement of the rubber flooring

• Installation of mirrors

• New doors

• Skirting

• Addressing the humidity problem

• The provision of basic physiotherapy gym equipment

The approximate cost of the project was Lm8,000. Some of the money was raised from four fundraising activities organised by TDM Hands On!, namely two swimming marathons, a treasure hunt and a 5-a-side football tournament, while the rest of the money was obtained from the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund.

For more information on TDM 2000 Malta and TDM Hands On!, contact Duncan Muscat on 7978-7675 or visit the website at www. tdm2000malta.org.