The Vodafone Malta Foundation donated equipment for a whole room that will serve as a daycare centre for children within the shelter at Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesu.  The second stage shelter Programm Sebħ, accommodates families who have suffered from domestic violence in their own homes. The families are referred from the Domestic Violence Unit within the Appoġġ Agency.

“The Foundation is proud to support the ongoing effort towards employees at Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesu and towards improving the quality of life of vulnerable persons.” said Ġemma Mifsud Bonnici, Chairperson at the Vodafone Malta Foundation. “We truly hope that the Child Day Care Centre will be a fun place where children will go and enjoy themselves and that will provide a safe and pleasant environment for all the children.”

Families at Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesu can reside at the shelter/Programm Sebħ for a period of 18 months, to enable mothers and children to regain their self-esteem and skills towards  independent living. The main aim of the childcare centre is to  encourage and enable the mothers to seek gainful employment or further their academic education, whilst their children are being taken care of at the Centre. The Childcare Centre will be run professionally and will be regulated by National and EU Standards.

“On behalf of Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesu, I would like to thank the Vodafone Foundation for giving us a donation to equip a whole room with facilities for our new Child Daycare Centre,” said Fr. Victor Mc Keon, Director  of Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesu. “This, together with other facilities, will definitely help our mothers towards further empowerment and eventually being more independent.

Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesu, better known locally as l-Istitut ta’ Cini, accommodates families, women and children who fall victims of domestic violence and are struggling to overcome their negative experiences. Most of the families follow Programm Sebħ, a therapeutic programme within Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesu where families live privately in flat-lets.  The Programme enables all family members to regain their self-esteem and learn social, life and academic skills.  Mothers also learn child rearing, home management and budgeting skills.  Families are supported and assisted by a professional team of Social Workers and Social Support Workers.