Local
Home-Start Malta is two years old
By MaltaMedia News
May 15, 2008 - 4:29:49 PM

Two years after the successful launch of Home-Start Malta, the service has now expanded to other localities including Zejtun, Zabbar and Fgura.  This project, which exists internationally, was introduced in Malta by Agenzija Appogg and is supported by Vodafone Malta Foundation and HSBC Cares For Children Fund.

Fourteen volunteers, all of whom are parents, are currently engaged with Home-Start Malta to give out this service to other parents having at least one child less than five years of age, by offering support.  Currently, 14 families and 36 children from Cottonera and the new areas are benefiting from Home-Start Malta, with a number of families waiting to receive this service.  There are also a number of volunteers who have just completed the training course to prepare to start delivering the service in the near future, thus strengthening the present group of volunteers.  Although this project was introduced in the Cottonera area, following its success, it has now also expanded to other localities.  

“Through Home Start, parents of very young children are being offered support, friendship and practical help in coping with ill health, disability, poverty and other social difficulties. The Vodafone Malta Foundation believes in its commitment towards bettering conditions in the society we live in, and is happy to be doing so by helping Appogg,” said the Foundations’ Chairperson, Mrs. Gemma Mifsud Bonnici. 

“HSBC Cares For Children Fund has supported a number of Appogg’s community projects over the years, while also extending its support to the various primary schools in Cottonera. We are very happy to share in the success of Home Start’s first two years, which is reaping the fruit of a lot of hard work by many volunteers,” said the Fund’s Chairperson, Mrs Catherine Gonzi.

Mr Gerada said that the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility can translate into public-private partnerships of a social nature that can make a marked difference in the lives of families especially children.  He was speaking during a presentation of the biennial report by APPOGG of the Home Start Project to Vodafone Malta Foundation and HSBC Cares For Children Fund who are funding this project.  He said that the relationship between APPOGG and Vodafone Malta Foundation and HSBC Cares For Children Fund spreads over a number of projects and thanks to these two entities, the lives of people and children has changed for the better.  This is social capital that needs to be promoted and encouraged in the country, as in spite that these projects are modest in their extend, they offer personal interventions that cannot be covered my mainstream social welfare programmes.  During the same event a new contract for a further two years was signed.

Thanks to the support of the Vodafone Malta Foundation and HSBC Cares For Children Fund, Cottonera is experiencing the same success that similar programmes in the UK have had.  When programmes are client focused and based in the community and especially involve the NGOs, one is bound to achieve success in terms of delivering a service that is required and effective.

Moreover the support of Agenzija APPOGG was critical in the setting up phase in order to get the programme going. In this respect the Cottonera social work team based at ACCESS ought to be commended.

Agenzija APPOGG is encouraging people to be part of Home-Start Malta by being volunteers and also encourages families who feel they can benefit from this service to approach the Agency.  For further information about Home-Start Malta, one can contact Ms. Jacqueline Vella on 21678043 or 99018398 or send a e-mail on home.start@maltanet.net or visit the website www.appogg.gov.mt.



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