The Vodafone Malta HR team lived “a day in the life of a substance abuser” undergoing rehab at San Blas Therapeutic Centre in Zebbug. Each Vodafone team member joined a separate group of residents in the different house tasks they are assigned for the day. They also shared lunch, group work and leisure time with them. This gave the Vodafone team the opportunity to talk with the residents about their challenges, their families and their dreams. They could see what life in rehab meant and what this particular group of individuals faced. They also met with three residents who willingly shared their life experiences with them.

“It was very touching to hear them recount these very difficult episodes in their life,” said Martin Gregory Head of HR at Vodafone Malta. “It helped us to better understand their difficulties, and how the Vodafone funds for San Blas are utilized. We could make a direct connection with our monetary support and the benefits being reaped, at first hand. We make it a point to go beyond cheque presentations, in order to understand better the difficulties people in our society are facing and how better to distribute funds across vulnerable groups in the Maltese community. This experience was a great eye-opener.”

San Blas Therapeutic Centre offers drug abusers a safe and secure environment 24 hours a day. Clients are assisted in their detoxification process and prepared for further rehabilitation. The Centre can host up to 28 male residents. The programme spans an average of nine months, the latter part on a semi- residential basis. This includes a pre re-entry phase where residents start working while remaining within the San Blas Community. After completion of the programme, residents are urged to keep in touch with Caritas.

So far the Vodafone Malta Foundation has donated over €50,000 in financial help to Caritas, €3,000 of which were given by employees in March this year as part of the employee charity contribution scheme.