Caring for Caritas

Caritas is currently focusing on getting help for its harm reduction residential shelter for homeless youngsters, its founder Mgr Victor Grech told The Times.

Assistance is also needed for its programme for schools, a prevention and education campaign for children and young people aged between nine and 16 years in all schools, Mgr Grech added.

Caritas, opened a day centre for drug addicts in 1985 and now offers 13 services. It has 67 full-time staff and several part-timers and volunteers and requires close to Lm500,000 a year to keep all of this going.

Mgr Grech said both programmes were "very badly needed".

The harm reduction project was aimed at homeless clients with a drug addiction problem who may not have the motivation to kick the habit, but who still need support.

"We had 56 such cases last year, 11 of which followed the drug rehabilitation programme at San Blas. We had another 130 dropping in to eat or have a shower, and attend counselling sessions.

"Many such clients would have nowhere to sleep as they would have been kicked out of their parents' home. It's important to work with them, as with everybody else for that matter, as no matter what a person has done, even if s/he is in the pits, there is still a bright patch, no matter how small, that could be worked on and encouraged to grow in a way to outweigh the bad," Mgr Grech said.

The other project Caritas wants to have more funds for is the educational project in schools.

"I have long been saying that if youngsters had the opportunity to undergo the programme we run at San Blas they would be equipped with a lot of tools that would serve them well later in life.

"It takes one less than four months to stop the drug habit. The other eight months are spent in a character formation programme and preparation for life, giving one tools to face the world," Mgr Grech explained.

Caritas runs several other services including a prison inmates' programme, a drug rehabilitation programme at Floriana for those who can be dealt with without the need for a residential programme, which is used by over 500 people annually, as well as other counselling services.

"We are organising what we have dubbed as revive parties for youngsters. These are parties at popular discotheques held between 7.30 and 11.30 p.m. where no alcohol or smoking is permitted but where youths have a lot of clean fun. They are very popular with youngsters and we get some 500 for each one we organise," Mgr Grech said.

"All our services are free of charge. We want to live the values of the Church and assist those in need without expecting anything in return. We do not even ask those using our services for a contribution.

"The government contributes to some of the services but we still have to raise a lot of money ourselves," Mgr Grech said.

Anyone wanting more information about Caritas, its services or wishing to help can call 2123 3933/2124 5358.