Imam Laiq Ahmed Atif visits Caritas with festive delights

Imam Laiq Ahmed Atif and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community once again made a gesture of solidarity and communal love to residents who are currently undertaking a drug rehabilitation programme within Caritas Therapeutic Communities.

On Saturday 10^th December 2022 Imam Atif together with representatives of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community held a half day encounter with residents at the Male Shelter, the San Blas Therapeutic Community for Men and those in the Female Programme. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community gave each resident a gift. These gifts will also be distributed to residents in the Prison Inmates Programme, Dar Charles Miceli and the Tal-Ibwar Therapeutic Centre. 

During the Visit residents shared their experiences of their recovery and Imam Atif had lots of words of encouragement and hope for them. He praised their efforts in their journey of recovery. He encouraged them to forgive themselves, make amends with their loved ones, look forward and work toward their goals and also seek God’s presence in their lives. 

Caritas Malta director Anthony Gatt accompanied Imam Atif during the visit. He expressed his appreciation for the friendship that has developed between the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and Caritas and the support that this community gives to Caritas throughout the year. He acknowledged that this is the 6^th year since the Ahmadiyya Community reached out. He acknowledged the various supports received and experiences shared throughout these last six years. 

The residents in the Therapeutic communities also expressed their appreciation for the gifts and for the significance of receiving such a visit. One resident in the female programme expressed how such encounters continue to confirm to her and her fellow residents, the love for them from the wider community. She continued how such visits help break the false belief that they are rejected by society. Of special meaning is that this hand of support is also coming from the Ahmadiyya Muslim community that above everything else promotes the values of peace and communion between humans.