The Cottonera Resource Centre of the University of Malta was set up with the objective of promoting and facilitating learning in all its forms, while encouraging more people from the locality to further their education beyond the compulsory years.
For this purpose, a number of educational programmes have been drawn up targeting different age groups. The Cottonera Resource Centre is found in St Edward Street, Cottonera, in a part of the building which used to house the ex-secondary Lorenza Gafa School.
Primary school students
For the first time, students of the Faculty of Dental Surgery carried out an outreach programme among students attending summer schools located in the Cottonera area. Under the supervision of their lecturers, dentistry students conducted dental check-ups among the summer school students and members of the general public. The objective was to promote dental hygiene. These educational programmes would not have been possible without the help of St Margaret’s College.
Secondary school students
The first project carried out by the Cottonera Community Centre was a mentoring programme conducted with a group of students who are academically promising but who might be in need of further assistance to continue with their studies.
This assistance is given by mentors. These students participate in a number of encounters on and off campus which help them appreciate that learning can be fun. This year the Centre also provided revision sessions for those students sitting for their SEC examinations, as well as homework help for secondary school students. These programmes will also be available this academic year. Those interested please contact the Centre.
Youth
In conjunction with the ZTK Youth Club within the St Margaret College, a summer youth club was run utilising EU Youth in Action funds. This summer, the youth club explored the lack of free and secure open spaces for youths in Cottonera, Zabbar, Kalkara and Xghajra areas, where young people can “hang out”.
Adults and the elderly
The Cottonera Resource Centre tries to instill the love of learning among different age groups. October sees the start of two sets of courses. One is a preparatory course for adults interested in furthering their studies at a tertiary level.
Another educational programme conducted by the University of the Third Age (sponsored by the Parliamentary Secretariat for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing) will start on 10 October. The first two courses will be given by Rev. Dr Rene’ Camilleri and Tony Terribile on Church and State in Malta and Chapels and Niches in Cottonera, respectively. The course will be held every Thursday from 9 until 11am.
The general public is also invited to a series of lectures given on the last Friday of every month at 7.15pm by researchers who have conducted studies on issues related to the Cottonera area and Kalkara.
Community projects
Another remit of the Cottonera Resource Centre is to facilitate regeneration in the area. To this end, a number of meetings are conducted with local stakeholders, policy makers and researchers to find ways of promoting and utilising the tangible and intangible heritage found in the area with the hope of kickstarting the lagging economy in some areas of the Cottonera.
Persons interested in attending these educational programmes or to ask for further information are to phone on 2340 7801; email: [email protected]