Foundation strives to make ends meet

Alec, an eight-month-old boy with Down's syndrome, gurgles happily as the therapist uses flash cards to teach him how to learn the language through written format.

The session is being carried out in the child's playing area, surrounded by his familiar toys, with his mother watching in the sidelines and learning.

Alec is just one of a number of children who benefit from the Equal Partners Foundation's philosophy to provide personalised therapy programmes and support in homes, schools, work and within the community at large.

The non-profit organisation, which provides support to 170 members and their families, was set up in 1999 and built on the concept of inclusion, self-determination and advocacy.

For years, the foundation has been arguing that it was being discriminated against after successive calls for financial help from the government fell on deaf ears.

The foundation, which provides 5,000 hours of voluntary work a year and has provided Lm52,000 worth of services over the past eight years, has been calling on the government to sponsor or subsidise the organisation of the client's choice.

"To date, the foundation has not received Lm1 from the government, which means that parents have to fork out the bulk of the cost for the services and we have to constantly raise funds," foundation president Colin Galea told a press conference at the Mdina local council yesterday.

So every year, as part of its fund-raising and awareness campaign, the foundation organises a schedule of cultural activities as part of the Partners in Culture initiative.

"The aim behind this initiative is to raise funds to support the programmes of children with disabilities, while at the same time giving something of interest and value to the students who are contributing to our mission," Elena Tanti Burlò, committee member and consultant psychologist, said.

Foundation executive manager Anabel Mifsud said this year's activity, called Dawra Durella Madwar l-Imdina, was geared for all children in kindergarten and years 1 and 2.

The foundation was in the process of contacting all the schools and they were expecting 3,000 children to take part in the event, which will be held on April 27 between 9 and 11.30 a.m.

In the coming days the schoolchildren will be provided with a sheet mimicking a treasure map to encourage them to collect 25c from their relatives and friends to eventually collect Lm5.

Children were not being pressured to collect the Lm5 and every contribution was welcomed. However, those who like a challenge can photocopy the leaflet and collect more funds, which will go to helping children like them, but who have disabilities, lead a better life.

On the day, the young children will first get a historical mini-walk of Mdina, before gathering in the main square for a session of animation and entertainment.

After the event, the children will be provided with scrolls on the history of Mdina, as well as other material that they can discuss with family members and teachers.

This event is being fully supported by Vivian Corporation Ltd, the local distributors of Chicco, Plasmon and Wyeth Nutritionals, as part of its social commitment.

Schools that require more information can call on 2125 0400 or 9924 0655.