An agreement for an investment of €3.7 million spread over a period of 3 years has been signed between Caritas and the Ministry for Social Policy and Children's Rights, with this investment being intended to ensure the best service to minors in the Caritas rehabilitation centre.

The Ministry stated that it has continued to strengthen the social agreements it has with various non-government organisations in order to continue offering a professional service in the community. It continued that this social agreement extension with Caritas will consolidate all the services offered by the Ibwar Caritas Community Centre for Adolescents.

It added that this agreement for a €3.7 million investment also means a 21% increase over the previous agreement. Minister Falzon said that the government is "investing so much in health because we really believe in the potential of everyone, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged".

Caritas Director Anthony Gatt said that the Ibwar Community Centre started welcoming young people from May 2021, and has worked with 140 cases so far, where at least 5 sessions were held with each individual who sought help. Gatt continued that Caritas is currently working with 45 families, where interventions are also being made with young people who are still in a phase of experimentation. He added that this is also while 6 young people are residing in the centre until they complete the four phases of rehabilitation and eventually return to the community.

The Ministry said that most of the cases are of teenagers who unfortunately went through very difficult social situations and ended up resorting to drugs with the intention of alleviating some of their pain as a consequence. It added that fortunately, the majority of teenagers enjoy stability in their lives again and are even helped by a team of professionals after they successfully complete the rehabilitation period at the Community Centre.