‘Thanks for having faith in our talent’

Stained glass slabs, carved stone and handcrafted pottery formed part of one large artwork by a group of artists with disabilities to thank President George Abela for believing in their talent.

“I will exhibit this in a prominent place within the Palace. It shows such diversity in your talents – talents which I don’t have as I can’t carve a flower out of a piece of rock,” Dr Abela said as he thanked them for the gift.

He called on the authorities and employers to make space for people with disabilities who had lots of skills to offer and to ensure that they were paid fairly for their work.

Dr Abela spoke during a visit at the Birkirkara day centre run by Aġenzija Sapport for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

The centre, one of nine, caters for about 67 people who go there every day to learn basic skills and hone their talents.

It was one of the beneficiaries of the President’s Creativity Award – a fund that helped buy raw materials so users could express their creativity through pottery, painting and other forms of art.

As he toured the premises this week, Dr Abela saw the artists at work. One woman barely noticed the President was in the room as she was so focused on colouring in her drawing.

Others demonstrated how they made stained glass patterns and sculptures out of stone.

“This goes to show that we all have some form of creativity within us. It’s all about how we express it. Some people do so by playing an instrument and others by colouring in a picture,” he smiled.

Sina Bugeja, chairwoman of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services that manages Aġenzija Support, said the sculpture reflected the abilities of the people who put it together.

“It’s about looking at people’s abilities and not their disabilities,” she said.

Dr Abela concluded by saying he would invite the group to the Palace to see their monument.

In a separate event at the President’s Palace in Valletta, Dr Abela announced the winners of this year’s funds from the Presidents Creativity Award. These include 16 children, four young people and eight community projects.