Prime Minister Robert Abela, accompanied by Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri, attended a series of engagements in Gozo with a visit to Eman Patisserie, a family-run business that has been operating on the island for the past 33 years.
During the visit, the Prime Minister heard the story behind the business, including how its name carries special personal significance for the family, a statement said.
Today, the family members running Eman Patisserie said they are looking to the future with optimism as they continue to build on more than three decades of work.
Abela praised the family's courage, determination and entrepreneurial spirit, noting that family businesses such as Eman Patisserie not only create economic opportunities but also form an integral part of the identity and social fabric of Gozitan communities.
The visit continued with a meeting at the Rabat Local Council, where Abela and Camilleri met Mayor Brian Azzopardi and councillors to discuss the locality's priorities, the challenges facing residents and ongoing collaboration between the government and the local council.
Abela said local councils are key partners in strengthening communities and improving residents' quality of life.
The Prime Minister also visited Dar Emmaus, an emergency shelter for adults experiencing homelessness and a refuge offering shelter and support to victims of domestic violence.
Run by the 'Kenn u Tama' Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, Dar Emmaus consists of two apartments equipped to provide residential services for adults and their children, as well as care and rehabilitation programmes.
During the visit, Abela also met employees of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS), which works closely with the management of Dar Emmaus through its Gozo directorate.
Social workers support people who have become homeless for various reasons and continue assisting residents to help them rebuild their lives independently, the statement said.
Between 2022 and 2025, the government and the 'Kenn u Tama' Foundation entered into an agreement worth more than €500,000 to strengthen the services provided by Dar Emmaus to vulnerable people in Gozo.
That investment is being extended through a partnership agreement between the Kenn u Tama Foundation and the Ministry for Social Policy and the Family covering the period between 2025 and 2027. Under the agreement, total funding of €565,020 will be allocated over three years.
Abela thanked all the employees and volunteers involved in the work carried out at Dar Emmaus and reaffirmed the government's commitment to continue investing in services that protect people's dignity and provide practical support to those facing difficult circumstances.
He said investment in Gozo should encompass every aspect of life on the island, from supporting businesses and strengthening local councils to assisting the most vulnerable members of society.