Six people with disabilities were presented with a certificate after attending sessions offered by Aġenzija Sapport through the Way to Work program over the past seven months.
This group of participants, aged between 20 and 33, contributed to more than 80 people with disabilities graduating from this course since 2022. In Malta, since the program’s launch in October 2022, 41 people attended group training and benefited from individual sessions, while 34 others only attended individual sessions. In Gozo, 5 people with disabilities attended group training and another 5 attended only individual sessions.
The graduation certificates were presented by the Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering, Julia Farrugia, and the Chief Executive Officer of Aġenzija Sapport, Oliver Scicluna.
This course is intended to prepare people with disabilities for employment by focusing on independent living skills and other skills necessary for the workplace. In addition to group training, the Way to Work program offers individual sessions to focus on specific aspects and strengthen skills. The program mainly focused on practical training, such as skills needed for office work, working in factories, and in food establishments. The participants also had the opportunity to visit various entities to see in practice what they had learned in training.
Of those who attended this year, two participants have already found employment. Another participant started attending the “Headstart” training by the Lino Spiteri Foundation, and three other participants began “Sheltered Employment” training also offered by the Lino Spiteri Foundation.
Minister Julia Farrugia spoke about the fundamental role of work in the lives of people with disabilities, explaining that it brings value and respect to their lives. She emphasized that the government is working to strengthen training opportunities and create effective systems to help these people integrate into the world of work. “Work is a source of dignity. The government is making continuous efforts to offer more training opportunities and create systems that help people with disabilities move closer to the world of employment. The Way to Work program is an important priority that aims to promote more inclusion. The goal is for more participants to complete this program and secure stable employment, leading to a more independent life,” concluded the minister.
The Chief Executive Officer of Aġenzija Sapport, Oliver Scicluna, congratulated the participants of the Way to Work Program for their commitment in successfully completing the sessions prepared for them. He also thanked the parents for their collaboration in this journey, which aims to strengthen the abilities of their children so that they are better positioned to find employment. Mr. Scicluna added that the agency’s commitment is to increase opportunities for people with disabilities to reach their full potential.
Since its inception, the program has also reached 26 parents through sessions aimed at the parents of participants, with the goal of complementing what is being taught to people with disabilities while also providing a space where parents can discuss and share thoughts on the inclusion of their children in the world of work. This year, 8 parents attended these sessions.
For 2025, an evaluation of this program is planned. This will allow the agency to see where improvements can be made and adjustments to session planning can be made, while also continuing to strengthen the service provision as part of a chain that collectively offers more inclusion opportunities.
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