On Monday 24th June 2013, the President of Malta, H.E. Dr George Abela and Mrs Abela officially opened a brand new Multi Sensory Room for use by residents of Id-Dar tal-Providenza and this room was blessed by Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. Dr Abela said that this finished project is a thank you to the generosity of the Maltese people that donate their money to the Malta Community Chest Fund which has in turn made it possible. He said that the Community Chest Fund is not just l-Istrina but a series of fund raisers that happen throughout the whole year and the Maltese are proud and grateful at the same time to see that their money makes projects like this Multi Sensory materialise. Id-Dar tal-Providenza is no stanger to the Maltese generosity.

Multi Sensory rooms, also referred to as theatres, are specifically designed environments, which enable people with a disability to enjoy a very wide range of sensory experiences for therapy, learning, relaxation and fun. The concept is to create events which focus on particular senses such as touch, vision, sound, smell, taste and movement. The Multi Sensory room is of great help to persons with severe disabilities as most of the residents of the Home are as well as to persons with special needs, whether physical, intellectual, emotional or behavioural.

In his welcome speech, Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-dar tal-Providenza said that this new development is a continuation of the work that Dun Mikiel Azzopardi started from scratch forty-eight years ago. This newly inaugurated Multi Sensory Room is a confirmation of the Home’s ongoing commitment to provide quality service to irs residents. It is also an opportunity to recall the memory of Anne Cilia La Corte, one the early residents of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. Her father, John Cilia La Corte was the second administrator of the Home and it was his deathwish that this room commemorates his daughter whom he so deeply loved.

Fr Martin that a project like this needed specialised and sophisticated as well as costly equipment but it was thanks to the Malta Community Chest Fund that gave its approval for the funding of this project that all the equipment needed could be purchased and installed. There were other costs for tile laying, painting etc which were paid through the generous donations of the Maltese population that are continuously made to Id-Dar tal-Providenza, especially during the News Year’s Day ‘Feast of Generosity’ organised by RTK4Charity and the annual Volleyball Marathon that takes place the first weekend of July.

Fr Martin thanked H.E. Dr George Abela and Mrs Abela, Mrs Darleen Zerafa and all the members of the board of the Community Chest Fund who were instrumental for this project to materialise. He congratulated the President for the precious work he is doing towards those in need through the Malta Community Chest Fund. Fr Martin also thanked H.E. The Archbishop, Mgr Pawl Cremona O.P. for his overwhelming support for the project.

Also present for the occasion, amongst others, were the Parliamentary Secretary for Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, Dr Franco Mercieca, the Opposition spokesperson for Social Dialogue and Civil Liberties, Mrs Claudette Buttigieg and Mr Joe Camilleri, Chairperson of the National Commision for Persons with Disability (KNPD).

Photos by: DOI – Jeremy Wonnacott