A group of three food enthusiasts, Albert Camilleri, Nicole Schembri and Nathan Gatt, started a food blog recently called #foodietarians with the aim of sharing their love of food, predominantly with the online world.
On Holy Wednesday, however, they decided to share their homemade figolli and other treats with the children of the St Patrick’s Salesian School.
(Photo from left to right: Albert Camilleri, Nicole Schembri, Nathan Gatt and their friends who helped)
Together with a small group of their friends, they made in excess of 50 figolli and other treats and then racked their brains to think of whom they could share them with. After a little bit of thought, the school sprang to mind and, after contacting Fr Jeremy Vella, all was set up for a surprise visit to hand out their traditional sweets.
The school is also “home away from home” for a 37 young males from the ages of eight up until their early 20s who need somewhere to stay due to personal or social circumstances. As the school itself states, “through a person-centred approach, youngsters are accompanied on their journey towards reintegration with their family of origin or independent living.”
(Fr Jeremy Vella)
The Malta Independent joined #foodietarians and spoke to Fr Vella about the care services which the school offers, and he had a lot to say about public perception and the reality of what it is like to live and be part of such an organisation.
“These young people find a place where they can, first of all be calm and away from all the issues they might have at home, as well as constant support.” Fr Vella also repeatedly insisted that “they lead a very normalised life” meaning there are no unnecessary restrictions and they have all the liberty and freedom that they would have in any other household.
What the staff and volunteers want to put forward is that the large building is just one big home. "Many children lose control of their lives when they are taken out of their homes; here we give them the space they need to regain their control. They have simple choices to make such as what football club to join or what school they wish to go to.
"A boy will decide whether or not to continue living here after the age of 16, depending on circumstances; it is also up to them what kind of contact to have with their families after they leave the household."
Time and time again, Fr Vella refers to the young people as 'friends' and 'our children', insisting that the whole point is reintegration into a normal living situation, which starts upon entering into the building. When they finally leave, since they found another family in the home, they can eventually go back into their lives and "lead a completely independent living.
One thing that worries the clearly passionate priest is public perception. "Many people's perception is entirely different to what I'm saying. They think these children live a very structured life with strict timetables, as if they are trapped." TMI compared it to the kind of 'Hollywood Institute' to which the Fr agreed and said, "that's true and it is far from reality."
Walking around the building with the three foodies following Fr Vella, it is difficult not to feel completely enveloped by the clear care that every single member of staff - be it full-time, part-time or volunteers - has. The smiling faces, mostly all shy and reserved, all slowly stuck their hands out to receive their figolli and treats.
Smiles really did prove to be infectious that day as everyone including the #foodietarians, the children, the staff we met and TMI were smiling broadly and joking all the way outside the door, where a small number of the young men were playing hide and seek and enjoying every minute of the sun that had just come out.
(Video footage by Deo Falzon)