New home in Zurrieq for persons with disability

Id-Dar tal-Providenza opened their fourth home for people with disability, this time in Zurrieq. The home, called ‘Shalom’, will house five residents aided by their live-in carers.

In his welcoming speech, the Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Fr Martin Micallef said that this home, in the heart of Żurrieq and in a dignified environment that respects their rights, is being offered to persons with disability that wish to live in it and that like everyone else have the right to live in the community, be part of it and participate fully in its daily life.

The home was inaugurated by parliamentary secretary for people with disability Justyne Caruana, who pledged that the government will provide financial help for the next decade to sustain the individual service of support that the residents of ‘Shalom’ will need.

In her speech, she spoke of the government’s project to open ten homes for people with disability in the community, the next one earmarked for Haz-Zabbar.  

She said the government has passed on €300,000 to ‘Shalom’ in order to cover for and ensure that the services given to the residents of the Żurrieq home were to the highest standards as set by the government for residential homes like this one. Thus, like all other members of Maltese society, these residents will be able to be full participants in society with equal rights including that of being able to work.

Present for the ceremony was Fr Cyril Axelrod, the first Catholic person in the world that was born deaf and became a priest. At the age of 40 he was diagnosed with the Usher Syndrome that led to his loss of eyesight as well. Fr Cyril is in Malta to promote the publication in Maltese of his autobiography “And The Journey Begins” translated into Maltese by Fred Bezzina and entitled “U Jibda l-Vjaġġ”.  Fr Cyril, aided by his personal intepreter spoke about his personal experiences and then presented Justyne Caruana with a  copy of his book.

The Episcopal Vicar for Diaconia, Mgr Charles Cordina delivered a short speech and then blessed the new home as well as the van that will be used by the residents.

Other speeches were made by the Opposition speaker for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Aging Robert Cutajar and Zurrieq mayor Ignatius Farrugia.