Oasi Foundation's 11th anniversary

Jum L-Oasi was celebrated on Wednesday, World Day Against Drugs, to mark the setting up of Oasi Foundation 11 years ago and of its centre ten years ago.

To mark the occasion, the foundation organised an educational campaign, with the theme, Il-Hajja hi tassew sabiha...'il barra mix-xibka ta' l-abbuz. Last Sunday, during a seminar, organised by Oasi Foundation for its members, staff and volunteers, which was also attended by Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, Oasi director general Fr Manwel Cordina presented a memento to 11 persons who have carried out voluntary work for the past four years.

To mark its anniversary, Oasi Foundation also published In Due Time which highlights Oasi's general strategy for the next ten years and the various plans of action adopted by the foundation. In Due Time outlines the social commitment undertaken by the foundation in the past eleven years.

Oasi Foundation undertakes substance abuse and addiction preventive education, immediate intervention in cases of individual crisis and the treatment and rehabilitation of addiction as a harm reduction method.

The publication provides information on Oasi Foundation, its structure, its concept of prevention and its strategic design. It also outlines Oasi's primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. It includes the disease concept of addiction, the objectives of Oasi's addictive treatment and an outline of Oasi's therapy method.

Oasi Foundation also distributed 7,000 copies of its magazine, Oasi.com in Gozo, Malta and European countries. The publication, whose editor is Edel Cassar, boasts several articles of interest covering various issues.

One article by Oasi primary prevention team co-ordinator Mark Camilleri ought to be useful for parents - it highlights the role of the peer group in the life of young people.

Another topical article, by Oasi research and programming officer Samantha Borg, provides an overview of depression. The article outlines the types and symptoms of major depression, the symptoms of manic depression, the causes of depression, psychotherapies and how people who are depressed may help themselves.

The publication also includes articles by prevention assistant Maureen Buttigieg, Oasi director general Rev. Fr Emmanuel Cordina, Lawrence Scicluna, Reuben Demanuele and Oasi school principal Natalina Sultana.

To subscribe to Oasi.com call Ms Maureen Buttigieg or Mr David Xerri (tel: 2156-3333).