Special activity for immigrant children

All children love games and parties and the 35 foreign children, currently living at Lyster Barracks, are no different. On the last Saturday of May they were hosted to a special activity organised by the Salesian Oratory in Sliema.

When they arrived they joined other children in different fun games during which it was possible to get to know them. These games were specially organised by an enthusiastic team of young animators.

The activity was held on the occasion of the feast of Mary, Help of Christians, patroness of the Salesians, and the invitation was extended to the refugee children during the centenary year of the Salesian presence in Malta.

The Salesians were founded by St John Bosco in Italy to cater for poor and deprived boys. In 1903 they arrived in Malta and opened St Patrick's School for children in need. Five years later, the Oratory was established for the young people of the area.

Today the Salesians also run Savio College, Osanna Pia Hostel and a primary school in Tunisia. To mark the centenary, the Salesians have undertaken to promote the cause of deprived children.

After the games the children were entertained to a party. Although different faiths were represented, it was still possible at the start to stop and pray for different types of children who are in need throughout the world. The party was an opportunity to talk to the children and hear their different stories.

It was sad to see them go when the time came for them to leave. Yet this was the start of a new friendship which will continue to grow throughout the summer months, when they will have other opportunities to visit the Oratory. The outing was made possible by the help and support of the Armed Forces of Malta.