A Learning Centre sponsored by the Voices Foundation was inaugurated at the Caritas Malta Therapeutic Centre at San Blas on Wednesday, 22nd September, 2010. This gives Caritas state of the art facilities to raise the level of education of clients undergoing programmes of rehabilitation from drug addiction, and for the training of staff.
The Centre was inaugurated by Voices Foundation Chairman Mr. Antonello Gauci and Caritas Malta Director Mgr. Victor Grech.
The Voices Foundation holds popular concerts every two years with the aim of raising funds which it donates to charitable institutions. In 2008 the Voices “Tell Me Why” concert had youth as its point of reference, and from the proposals submitted to access 50% of the funds raised, that proposed by Caritas Malta was chosen. The idea to set up a Learning Centre at San Blas tied in very well with that year’s theme.
Caritas Malta offers rehabilitation programmes to enable persons, mainly youths, overcome their drug addiction. By offering a drug free, safe environment, it helps residents to build up values that would enable them to change and make their way back into society as responsible individuals.
Part of this rehabilitation process involves education, both of an academic and practical nature, that help them explore, experience and improve their potential. This was already being imparted with the limited physical and financial resources available within Caritas. The new Learning Centre is a significant enhancement to the educational content of the rehabilitation programme.
Mr Gauci said that Voices were very appreciative of the work Caritas was doing with residents at San Blas and at its other rehabilitation centres. He said that the development and equipping of the Learning Centre was the first phase of the project. In the second phase, Voices will be financing the tutoring expenses at the Caritas Centre for the next five years.
He said that the concert being given by Voices next month will raise funds to finance similar projects, with the receipts of the first night to go to the Malta Community Chest Fund.
Mgr. Grech said that the Centre had been located at what was formerly the dormitory of female clients at San Blas. The ladies’ rehabilitation programme had been moved to the Caritas Centre in Birkirkara. He thanked Mr Gauci and the Voices Foundation for financing this project, and dedicating their energies as a Choir to helping people in need. He also thanked the Caritas personnel and residents involved in the development of the Learning Centre.
