Friday 29 March 2024

President inaugurates Dar il-Kaptan extension

The President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, inaugurated a €140,000 extension at Dar il-Kaptan, the Foundation for Respite Care Services, in Mtarfa, on Tuesday, 10 November, 2015.
In her address Ms Coleiro Preca paid tribute to the pioneers who set up the Foundation 24 years ago, the National Commission Persons with Disability (KNPD) and the Association of Parents of Children with Disability, and also to Rotary Club Malta for their vision in financing the two entities so that they could set up the first respite home.
“Although we have been offering a number of services to persons with disability in our country for many years, before Dar il-Kaptan was born we did not have a place that offered respite services so that the family of a disabled person can have their minds at rest and take a short break,” she pointed out.
Apart from Rotary Club Malta, who have helped all along, Ms Coleiro Preca also thanked the members of the respective boards who sat on the Foundation and the large number of volunteers who worked at Dar il-Kaptan. The new extension, she added “confirms that this was a needed project.
“We need more awareness among parents and carers of persons with disability (of the need for) rest and relaxation because if we truly want the person with disability to continue to enjoy life in the community (and) life at home, carers – it could be parents or siblings – of the person with disability also need to stay healthy.”

Ms Coleiro Preca took time to mention all those who made donations for the new extension, Rotary Club Malta, headed by the current President John Cooper and previous presidents including Anthony Gatt, Ulli Salomo and Dr Alfred Caruana Galizia; the Marigold Foundation, represented by Ms Elvia George; the Voluntary Organisations Fund of the Malta Community Chest Fund, represented by its Chairman Prof. Carm. Borg; the Good Causes Fund, represented by Claude G. Cuschieri from the Finance Ministry; and Bjørn Havnes of Wilhelmsen Lines Malta Ltd.

The extension project impacted all three floors of the respite home and involved remodelling of certain areas, new construction and investment in new equipment for the clients.
Among the guests present were Parliamentary Secretary for Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Aging Justyne Caruana, Opposition spokesman for disability Robert Cutajar and other supporters of the Foundation.
Foundation for Respite Care Services Chairperson Jennifer Sant outlined its vision to enable families who have a person with a disability to have regular breaks, and thanked the benefactors for making this dream, which started out as an exercise in ensuring better health and safety at Dar il-Kaptan, become a reality.
The first phase of the project involved the construction of a number of rooms on the second floor of the building. The multi-sensory room was relocated and enlarged. A gymnasium and a soft-play area were introduced on the first floor so that clients staying for the day can be occupied in the afternoons.
The laundry and linen room were relocated to enable the area previously occupied to be totally clear for easy access to the new emergency exit. There is a new waiting area for parents and relatives visiting the children and the staff room, clients’ dining room and administration offices were upgraded.
The second phase included the finishing of all works, including tile laying, installation of water, electricity and air-conditioning units, plastering, painting, gypsum works and all apertures, including doors, fire doors and windows, and installation of fire alarms and CCTV cameras.
Phase three involved the installation of equipment and all furnishings.
The new multi-sensory room was relocated from the front porch/terrace of Dar il-Kaptan, which was previously much enjoyed by clients, particularly in summer. But its presence there decreased the amount of natural light available in the clients’ dining room. The new multi-sensory room can accommodate up to seven children and has new equipment and furnishings.
The new gymnasium can accommodate up to five children and includes a treadmill, exercise bicycle and other specialised equipment to encourage physical activity among Dar il-Kaptan’s clients.
The soft-play area is also a novelty at Dar il-Kaptan. It is intended for children aged 2 to 11 and includes a ball pool.
For more information on the Foundation for Respite Care Services visit www.darilkaptan.org.
– ENDS –

Captions:

The President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, with the Foundation for Respite Care Services Chairperson Jennifer Sant (third from right) and the foundation’s Administrator Joseph Gerada (on right) at the inauguration of the €140,000 extension at Dar il-Kaptan, Mtarfa
President Coleiro Preca speaking at the inauguration of the extension
President Coleiro Preca opens the new multi-sensory room in the €140,000 extension at Dar il-Kaptan with the Foundation for Respite Care Services Chairperson Jennifer Sant and the foundation’s Administrator Joseph Gerada looking on

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