Many in mourning following the loss of little footballer Ilyas

Jul 18 2022

Many have entered a period of deep mourning after young Ilyas, a student and a football lover, passed away suddenly.

The news resulted in many issuing tributes to the young Ilyas, who was part of the St George’s Youth Nursery.

‘We have just received an utterly horrific news. With great sadness, we have just discovered that one of our youngest has left us’ said the club.

‘Ilyas will definitely never be forgotten – he will always remain in our hearts – and, however we can, we will be there for his family. A boy who was always smiling and beloved by all. He will undoubtedly remain in our hearts and prayers.

‘The committee, the parents and the kids who form part of the nursery are all saddened by this news and we extend our condolences to his family.’

Responding to the news was also singer and teacher Amber, who wrote a touching tribute to the young boy. ‘I feel so lucky to have been your teacher this year. You dreamt of doing lots of wonderful things in your life. I believed in you so much. You were so special.’

Amber went on to say that Ilyas taught her the meaning of love in its simplicity. You taught me to be positive even when obstacles seem too big to overcome and you taught me that through small acts you can make massive differences in a person’s life.

‘You never left without a hug or without me telling you that I loved you… because you waited for it everyday’ Ilyas, I will never forget you. I will continue to carry you on in my heart for the rest of my life.’

She also went on to issue a plea to other teachers by telling them to never end a day without a smile. ‘Hug the kids and tell them you love them. Remind them that they can find comfort in you and an infinite love without condition.’

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Photo Source: Amber FB, St George’s Youth Nursery

€700,000 goes towards Richmond’s Kids in Development

Jul 18 2022

The NDSF and Richmond Foundation have formally signed an agreement awarding a social grant towards a project that will provide a therapeutic programme of specialised care for children with severe and challenging behaviour conditions.

Kids in Development (K.I.Ds) is a residential therapeutic programme for children aged seven to thirteen who have been severely affected by early trauma, in the form of any type of abuse and/or severe neglect.

These experiences usually result in the children developing severe challenging behaviour that effects the child in all areas of their life such especially in developing meaningful relationships with others. Run by Richmond Foundation, the K.I.Ds Programme provides these children with a nurturing and stimulating environment, and positive experiences from which they may build confidence and resilience.

This includes learning how to develop significant relationships. The programme serves as a bridge for them to be able to move on to a more permanent situation in their lives. Recent studies indicate that one of every four persons of working age will experience a mental health issue at some point in their life and half of all mental health conditions start before the age of 14 years.

K.I.Ds first opened its doors in 2007, through a public-private-partnership between the Ministry of the Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity, Curia and Richmond Foundation.

For twelve years, it operated from a wing of the Jesus of Nazareth convent in Żejtun. In 2019, K.I.Ds was required to vacate the Żejtun premises and the Curia offered alternative premises, within Fra Diegu complex.

€700,000 goes towards Richmond’s Kids in Development

These premises require development and finishing to become fully operational. The NDSF’s funding will ensure that the project at the Fra Diegu complex will provide a tailor-made, healing space for the children to fully settle there.

The total capital expenditure for the new premises, which has a total area of 535 sqm, is projected to be around €1,170,000, which will be mainly financed through NDSF’s social grant of €700,000. The facility was carefully designed to facilitate the running of the programme.

It will include an administrative and therapeutic area, an outdoor area for recreational activity, spacious bedrooms for children, and a kitchen and living area. The entire indoor premises will be equipped with air conditioning.

Speaking at the signing, the NDSF’s CEO, Raymond Ellul stated that the purpose of the social grant was to ensure that vulnerable children and young adolescents, together with their families would find the right professional help and support through Richmond’s KIDS programme and hopefully they would eventually be able to fully integrate in society.

The project, like all other social projects currently funded by NDSF, will no doubt enhance the social well-being of the country for current and future generations. Mr. Ellul explained that the NDSF was established as a government agency in 2015 with the purpose of managing and administering 70% of the contributions received from the Individual Investor Programme of Malta.

On behalf of Richmond Foundation, Anthony Guillaumier, Chairperson, held that as more young people are experiencing complex life issues, it is essential that the country offers the appropriate range of services within purposely designed settings to provide the right care and support for them to lead positive lives.

This grant will provide some of the most vulnerable children with a dedicated setting to call home where they can develop in a safe and loving environment.

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1.5 million people travelled between Malta and Gozo during 2022’s second quarter

Jul 18 2022

A total of 1,478,626 passengers took to travelling between sister islands Malta and Gozo through 10,338 trips during 2022’s second quarter.

The statistics were published by the National Statistics Office (NSO), revealing that June was the busiest month by far, registering 3,566 voyages.

These trips carried 459,524 passengers, amounting to 34% of the total passengers crossing the archipelago. A 49% increase over the same period the previous year was registered as 1,352,221 passengers travelled between Cirkewwa and Mgarr.

The number of vehicles also increased by 21.6% when compared to last year, with a total of 498,214. The total number of trips during quarter 2 amounted to 8,675.

Compared to the same period last year, an increase of 19.6% was noted. The highest number of trips was registered for the month of June. The percentage total was registered at 34.2% of the total trips for the quarter.

Saturdays and Fridays saw the busiest passenger and vehicle traffic originating from Cirkewwa between January and June. From Mgarr, the passenger traffic was highest on Sundays and Saturdays.

Photo Source: Malta Info Guide

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Gozitan church murals feature tattoos and smartwatches in modern take

Jul 18 2022

Manuel Farrugia is no stranger to producing works of art which reinvent religious imagery with modern spins.

After including the features of local migrant workers, painting even the late Lassana Cisse, Farrugia has unveiled the images making part of the ‘Fejn Hu Ħuk?’ (Where is Your Brother?)’ project.

The four latest images, made especially for the St George’s Basilica, represent the ‘Acts of Mercy’ in a contemporary setting. ‘I hope that when one looks upon these images, they remember that Jesus is hidden in each and every one of us’ explains Farrugia.

The images feature a vulnerable person being cared after by a woman in a COVID mask and wearing a smartwatch, a tattooed pregnant woman and a hungry child being fed parts of the Bible as nourishment.

Each image goes into detail about each of the four acts of mercy, but also portrays the absolute aesthetic talent by Farrugia who is given a unique platform to blend the modern with the traditional.

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Photo Source: Manuel Farrugia FB