Pamela Baldacchino, an artist coordinating a project called 'Beyond Sight' for blind and visually impaired people at a Training and Activity Centre in Qormi speaks about her unique experience with the individuals living in this centre which revelas the things these people can do and at the ways they communicate and express their thoughts, feelings and emotions despite their impediment to see.

The various workshops in this Project aim to build trust and help the participants get to know each other and open up more with one another. Storytelling, one of the initial workshops used, involved different types of stimuli such as tactile sensations triggered by different materials and objects, as well as, poetry, music, movement and dance. Although initially there was an element of shyness, Ms. Baldacchino explains how eventaully people interact, talking at times over each other to say their part showing a level of engagement and enjoyment in the process.

The music workshops, often a cacophony of sound where instruments are played not exactly in harmony never fail to create a beautiful experience - as explained by one of the participants - "This has really helped me to forget all my troubles." Artist Luke Baldacchino played music on the piano and violin, while everyone created sounds or accompanied with a rhythm to the music of songs such as 'L-aħħar bidwi f'Wied il-Għasel', 'Xemx', 'Hey Jude' and 'Yesterday'.

Baldacchino continues sharing about a series of print-making workshops with artist Jesmond Vassallo during which the participants created shapes using pins, gablo, wool, pens that leave a raised edge on paper and wire that can be twisted to create a shape. From the workshops it became apparent that sometimes it is not an inability which keeps one back but rather the perception of being unable.

Baldacchino reveals that the most important value of this project is that these people are given importance in society. The fact that others are taking the interest in providing them with an alternative means to express their creativity and indirectly their emotions and knowledge, shows them that they are individuals with valid contributions to give to society at large. 'Beyond Sight' is funded by Arts Council Malta, through the grant by 'Il-Premju tal-President' managed by the Office of the President and the Arts Council Malta.