A special playing field funded entirely by the Vodafone Malta Foundation has just been inaugurated at the Respite Centre of the Arka Foundation in Gozo, which cares for persons with special needs.

Last year the Vodafone Malta Foundation also funded the multi-sensory studio at the centre, providing equipment which stimulates persons with special needs through light, sound and touch.

Through its Respite Centre, the Arka Foundation takes in persons with disabilities on a permanent basis as well as for short periods, to relieve their carers.

The Times met Mgr Emmanuel Curmi, director of the Arka Foundation, to discuss in more detail the work carried out at the centre.

How did the idea of this centre come up?

For the last 40 years I have worked hard to have persons with disabilities integrated within the community. Throughout the years a frequent question presented by the parents of children with special needs was their worry for the future of their children at the stage when they would no longer be able to care for them.

With this in mind, in 1995 the need of a Respite Centre was recognised. So, along with a group of volunteers and the financial and moral support of the local Church, I ventured into the project of building this centre.

Works started in 1997 and were completed in three years. The centre was officially opened on December 3, 2000. Since then the centre has provided respite and residential services to thousands of persons with disabilities, thus giving support to parents.

Who runs this centre?

In 1999 the Arka Foundation was established initially with the aim of creating awareness and promoting the needs and rights of persons with disabilities and subsequently to develop and administer the Respite Centre. The foundation is a non-profit-making non-government organisation.

To administer this centre the foundation employs 12 full-time and 27 part-time helpers. Moreover a large number of volunteers provide varied and careful services without any remuneration. For example, all members of the organising committee are volunteers coming from all walks of life, such as doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, lawyers, accountants, architects etc.

Who can make use of the facilities offered?

The centre is open for all persons with special needs irrespective of nationality, colour or creed.

Does the centre cater for all types of special needs?

The centre accepts people with all types of disabilities. Before a client is accepted, an assessment is carried out and it is ascertained that the staff at Arka are capable of handling that particular person.

Please describe briefly a typical day at the centre.

First clients to be handled in the morning are those who have to attend to some appointment like school, hospital, Malta, etc. Later work starts on other clients.

First thing is washing and cleaning, followed by breakfast. Later on in the morning two hours are dedicated for activities like pool, Jacuzzi, multi-sensory studio, gym, playing field, garden or even outings with our vans.

At noon it is lunchtime followed by a nap. More activities in the afternoon are followed by dinner, TV watching and later to bed. Bedtime varies with the clients' requirements.

What sort of financial expenses does a centre like this incur?

Approximately €300,000 are required annually. The main part goes for the wages followed by fuel, water and electricity, and maintenance.

From where do you get the funds?

Hard cash is required. Quite a substantial amount comes from the services rendered. Moreover the foundation also organises various fund-raising activities throughout the whole year. Cash donations are also handed in. The foundation also receives donations from Maltese emigrants in Australia, the US, Canada and the UK.

We thank the Vodafone Malta Foundation among other sponsors for their constant support towards our centre.

How important is it to upgrade the centre's facilities?

Upgrading the facilities means having more tools to provide better therapeutic activities to the residents.

Are there any new projects in the pipeline?

At the present moment the foundation has got the following projects in the pipeline:

Building garages for the vans and other vehicles that are owned by the foundation and investing in energy-saving equipment to reduce the costs to fuel the boilers. Moreover, we intend to alter the lighting system, aiming at reducing electricity consumption.

We also plan to build a new residential home, initiate a tourism project for persons with disabilities and purchase more special equipment for the gym.