Dar il-Kaptan in Mtarfa, which caters for physically and mentally challenged individuals, has carried out the landscaping of the garden adjoining the residential home and improved its access by the creation of passageways connected to ramps. Vodafone Malta Foundation and the HSBC Cares For Children Fund (HCCF) have provided the garden furniture, which completes the refurbishment scheme for the benefit of Dar il-Kaptan clients.

Mrs Catherine Gonzi, Chairperson of the HSBC Cares For Children Fund said: “Residents at Dar il-Kaptan have various needs and our support will go towards upgrading leisure facilities, so important to them and to their families.”

Established in 1991, Dar il-Kaptan offers weekly and daily respite services to over 250 families of persons with disabilities, providing them with some rest from the pressures and stresses entailed by the caring of people with challenging needs. An emergency service is also operate to cater for unforeseen circumstances.

Apart from the government annual grant, the Foundation that runs Dar il-Kaptan has to raise about Lm50,000 every year to cover all costs. It is an established policy of the Foundation that no one is denied use of the service because they cannot pay and indeed, around 30% of clients have their charges waived because they are below the minimum earnings criteria.

“Dar il-Kaptan continuously seeks to improve its premises to offer a better environment to the residents,” said Mrs Gemma Mifsud Bonnici, Chairperson of the Vodafone Malta Foundation. “We are more than happy to offer our help and appeal for more companies to follow our example.”