Editorial

Id-Dar Tal-Providenza, the complex for persons with disabilities at Siggiewi, a monumental labour of love undertaken by the late Mgr Michael Azzopardi some 40 years ago, is in dire straits. Mgr Laurence Gatt, who succeeded Mgr Azzopardi as director when the founder died 18 years ago last Friday, told a press conference on Thursday that the complex faces an accumulated deficit of Lm700,000 and that it now needs Lm1.5 million a year to run.

Mgr Gatt made it clear that Id-Dar tal-Providenza, which currently caters for 125 'angels' (as Mgr Azzopardi used to refer to them) has always relied on the generosity of the Maltese, who contribute in various ways: through straightforward donations, fund-raising activities, bequests and donations in kind, not to mention funds donated by the Malta Community Chest Fund, after activities such as the yearly telethon, L-Istrina. The Kerygma Movement, through its annual volleyball marathon over the last 19 years, has raised hundreds of thousands of liri for the home. However, the volleyball marathon is not being held this year, so this income somehow has to be replaced.

The government too, provides rebates on water and electricity bills to the tune of Lm18,000 and Lm19,000 a year, besides children's allowances, while residents themselves contribute a good part of their pension - but this only amounts to 10 per cent of the expenditure.

By far the biggest expenditure item is to meet the wages and salaries of the 235 employees, 180 of whom to tend to the disabled under their care. This item alone amounts to Lm1.1 million a year. There are, of course, numerous volunteers who do not receive a single cent for their work.

Mgr Gatt said that in the 18 years he has been director of the homes, expenses have soared. There are actually four homes - Villa Mgr Gonzi, opened in December 1965, Villa Papa Giovanni, opened in March, 1974, Villa Papa Luciani, opened in September 1987, and Zernieq, opened in February 1997, where five former residents live on their own with a support worker.

Naturally, the premises have been considerably overhauled (Villa Mgr Gonzi had been an RAF rest camp on the outskirts of Siggiewi), and maintenance costs have risen accordingly. Besides, ever newer facilities and amenities - including a gymnasium, an ability centre and workshops - have been installed over the years to make the life of the residents, young and old, as comfortable and as therapeutic as possible. Some are given work placements.

The educational, recreational and spiritual needs of the residents are constantly seen to. Each of them receives a programme specially suited and adpated individually with a holistic approach. They are, in fact, surrounded by never-failing love and care. No wonder there is a waiting list of 85, who cannot be accommodated at the moment.

In short, the work carried out at Id-Dar tal-Providenza is invaluable, and a constant reminder of the fact that Providence not only sees to it that hearts are touched but also that the opportunity to be generous with those who are disadvantaged in life is never lacking.

Sometimes the 'knock' on the heart to be generous is harder than usual. The current plight of Id-Dar tal-Providenza is one such occasion. If we take a good, hard look around us, we can see that most of us are living a reasonably good life and that we want for nothing. Indeed, there many 'trifles' on which we spend good money and which we could easily do without, or cut down on.

The cry from the heart coming from those who run Id-Dar tal-Providenza should set us thinking on what our priorities, life's priorities, should be. Now that summer is approaching, and with it more opportunities to enjoy the good life, we could surely set aside the odd Lm1 or Lm2 from the amount we would spend in a week, say, on ice-creams (which are fattening anyway) - to give a trite example - and give them to this noble cause.

Similarly, initiatives could be organised at the collective level. For example, the Ombudsman, Joe Sammut, who is also a well-known artist, has made a generous gesture indeed when he decided that the proceeds from the sale of his paintings of 68 localities and the book he is publishing containing reproductions of them, will go to Id-Dar tal-Providenza. It is a beautiful gift to mark his retirement and a noble example to be emulated and fully supported.

Then, no doubt, our companies and institutions - who have always responded generously to similar appeals and to philanthropic causes in general - can do their part in help bailing out Id-Dar tal-Providenza from its current financial difficulties.

We cannot afford to let this monument of love, willed by the saintly Dun Mikiel Azzopardi, go under.