Dun Mikiel Azzopardi award 2010 presented

Mgr Lawrence Gatt, ex-director of Dar tal-Providenza, and Fr Joseph Borg Micallef were recently awar-ded the Dun Mikiel Azzopardi Award 2010 for their contribution to people with disability.

The award, presented by Archbishop Paul Cremona at the Radisson Blu Resort in St Julian’s, recognises the work conducted by individuals and groups to help people with disabilities and those who have supported the work of Dar tal-Providenza.

Mgr Gatt was awarded the prize for his work at the residence, of which he was director for 22 years, while Fr Borg Micallef was recognised for his dedication to the disabled and their families.

The Dun Mikiel Azzopardi Award was launched 15 years ago by Mgr Gatt to mark the 30th anniversary of the residence’s founding.

During the event, a lecture on ‘Challenges and Opportunities of Biotechnology with regard to People with Disability’ was given to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi, the founder of Dar tal-Providenza.

The main speaker was Fr Manuel Agius, dean of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Malta.

Joe Camilleri, chairman of the National Commission for Persons with Disability, also spoke on the same theme from the perspective of the disabled.