[WATCH] Taxi Association and Transport Malta join forces to provide children with activity-packed day

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The Malta Taxi Licensed Association (MTLA) and Transport Malta have joined forces to participate in a charity ride for children from various homes in Malta.

MTLA co-ordinator Stephen Xuereb told MaltaToday that the event involved between 60 and 70 taxis, that would take children from various homes, from one venue to another, according to the jam-packed programme they had organized for them.

“We have come to consider these children as our little angels, and they have grown to anticipate this day,” he said, adding that the association had organized this event for around 31 years now, and that days like this were organized twice a year.

The programme of events features mass by Archbishop Charles Scicluna at the Pembroke parish church, a visit to the Circo Orfei at Monoel Island, a trip to McDonald’s in Naxxar for lunch, a movie showing at the Empire Cinemas in Bugibba, and it finally closes off with a Christmas party at the Radisson, Golden Sands, which will also see the attendance of President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca.

The day kicked off with a breakfast consisting of items like milk, fruits and tea among others, offered at the Pembroke park and ride, where the children were greeted by various voluntary workers and animators.

“We decided to participate in this initiative over the years because we truly believe that children need to be given the necessary support to make all their dreams come true and to meet their requirements so that they are better equipped for their future,” he said.

Xuereb added that the event would bring together 120 children from the ten different children’s homes in Malta and 30 helpers in all.

“Given the vast number of people involved, you can imagine how much preparation and coordination was necessary for this event to take place,” he said, explaining that the day had taken months to organize effectively.

Clint Axisa, responsible for the enforcement department at Transport Malta, explained that although the event had taken place over the years, this marked the first year that TM was directly involved in it.

“In the past, we have more often than not been at loggerheads with the taxi association, given that I am involved in enforcement, but the authority decided it wanted to offer its assistance to this event in order to make this day a success,” Axisa said.

He further explained that TM had offered logistical assistance and to plan the best routes to be used throughout the day, as well as the best venues for parking.

“We held weekly consultations to discuss how the day would be organized and we also collaborated to provide the children with a gift at the end of the day,” he said.

Xuereb said that the organizations had decided to give each child a tablet, as opposed to toys which were traditionally given during previous editions.

“We chose a tablet because it can be used both for educational and personal development as well as leisure activities,” Xuereb said, adding that the decision also followed the local and global trends towards digital and technological development.

Axisa said that the gifts were all efforts to give children what they needed and to provide them with conditions that could make them happy.

“At the end of the day it was the prospect of making these children happy that encouraged us to participate in this event,” he said.