As the decorations go up at the crèche in Sliema, Sarah Carabott speaks to Sr Stefania Caruana while her fellow Ursuline nuns rush around getting the children ready for another full day of activities.

“It is the busiest time, the children are invited to some party every day, people visit more frequently... and in between we put up the decorations,” Sr Stefania Caruana says, as she sits down for a few minutes.

The crèche currently homes 25 children, with the youngest aged four months and the oldest just three years old.

“They spend the day playing, eating, sleeping... and crying... doing just what every little child does,” Sr Stefania says, smiling.

As laughter wafts through the room, she explains that the children – nearly all of who are offspring of refugees – stay at the crèche during the week and are picked up by their parents for the weekend.

“This is important to strengthen the bond between the parents and the children.

“The children leave here on Friday feeling happy and return still in high spirits,” she says.

The children leave here on Friday feeling happy and return still in high spirits

Sr Stefania notes that the refugees need to drop their children off at the crèche to be able to work.

“These people have lost everything. They have gone through a huge trauma on their way here. I cannot put in words what they’ve been through – you have to speak to them to start understanding the suffering they’ve experienced, especially those who flee their country pregnant.”

Sr Stefania, 77, has been at the crèche for the past 40 years and still keeps in touch with some of the children she helped bring up.

“I have spent my life with kids. I brought up children who have married and nowadays have their own children.

“It’s nice to see them settling down in their own homes with their own family.”

Nearly all the children spend Christmas Day with their relatives and although the nuns miss the children and the house feels empty without their laughter, they appreciate that for once, they do not have to rush through lunch.

The nuns at the crèche join their convent companions for prayers, midnight Mass and lunch.

Asked whether the crèche was in need of anything at this time of the year, Sister Stefania said her message was one of gratitude for the generosity expressed all year round.

“The crèche needs things all year round, however, thank God, we are always provided with supplies.

“People are so generous that the moment we utter a word when we lack something, you find someone on the doorstep ready to help out.”