This week our Secretariat further pursued our endeavours to promote the abilities of persons with disability. Our Day Centres for Persons with Disability are full of talented people but as I often remarked, they go unnoticed and are next to invisible in our society, I have taken note of their talent and we are tailoring our activities to bring out these talents.

We therefore thought that our offices would be an excellent showcase and therefore we inviting people with disabilities attending our centre to our activities and display their talents. This week for example we purchased garden furniture from the Marsascala centre laboriously manufactured from recycled palettes and we also had an official event to mark the celebration of abilities. Soon another centre will deliver a set of mosaic pieces made from ceramic bits, which will also to be displayed in our offices. Apart from creating a brighter atmosphere at our office, this is a sterling opportunity also to foster entrepreneurship among people with disability.

We also had a Talent Show organised by Sapport, featuring all sorts of Talent from Persons with Disability. I was overwhelmed not only by the talent but also by the passion and intense emotions that these newly discovered artists were capable of transmitting to all of us there admiring them. Given the opportunity, they really and indeed did unmask their artistic talents.

Meetings with NGOs are a crucial exercise and keeps you in touch with needs and realities. I met the Maltese Blind Society. During this meeting I explained our plans and work in the sector with particular reference to the blind community. We discussed about our new Outlook Centre for the blind to be used instead of the present Centre in Santa Venera which is not a suitable and dignified place. This will be an upgrade in the quality of life of these persons and they will experience a completely new centre, adapted to their needs and with the introduction of a new programme based on the individual needs of our clients. Another meeting I had was with the Malta Epilepsy Association. They gave me a very informative introduction of their work throughout the year and from my end I expressed my ideas to working towards making the society more aware of such a condition so that it can be more inclusive.

With regards to the elderly, we officially announced another refurbishment project at St. Vincent de Paul Residence.  After successfully refurbishing St. Joseph 8 ward on time and within budget, we are now starting refurbishments on another wing comprising St Francis Wards 3 and 4. the plans were also exposed to the public during a press conference and both the technical team and the management of the residence gave all the related even with regards to the temporary migration of our residents to avoid any inconvenience to them. I heartily thank the staff and the unions involved for their co-operation in such delicate time.

We already have plans for other projects to further enhance the quality of life for the elderly living at St. Vincent de Paul Residence.

Next week we will continue with our pledge to guarantee the well deserved dignity to our older persons. In fact Monday we will be launching a charter of rights for residents living in Care homes for older persons which will feature rights such as dignity, security and liberty of the Persons living in Care homes. The launch will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Residence’s Active Ageing Unit.

Dr Caruana is Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of People with Disability and Active Aging