A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility (FITA) and the Malta Trust Foundation on Monday.

This agreement aims to provide more investment in modern technological devices for which visually impaired people, including children, youths and adults, will have the facility to train on and improve their quality of life.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli, Parliamentary Secretary Keith Azzopardi Tanti and the Malta Trust Foundation Chairperson Marie Louise Coleiro Preca.

The Minister for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Rights, Julia Farrugia Portelli stressed that this agreement embraces three important principles: that the Maltese society must continue to embrace the rights of inclusion, of equality, and independence. “We can never have inclusion if we do not assist when truly necessary,” stated Minister Farrugia Portelli, whilst making a reference that this agreement is being signed during the international week of awareness about disability and on the eve of the International Day of Volunteering.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation Keith Azzopardi Tanti also spoke about the importance of agreements of this type with the ultimate goal of improving people's quality of life. "FITA has been working for the past few years with various entities, public and private organisations, and other persons in order to provide the best service to vulnerable or disabled people.” He concluded by congratulating FITA and The Malta Trust Foundation for their collaboration and encouraged more organisations or persons to make better use of the services offered by FITA for better accessibility of information technology.

From her end, the Chairperson of The Malta Trust Foundation, President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca stressed that “Collaboration is necessary, since when we work together the impact and results will be much stronger and sustainable for people in need.”

FITA’s CEO Carlo Stivala stated that through this agreement FITA will provide the necessary training on innovative equipment for vulnerable or disabled persons.