The overload of strident political bickering that is reported in the local media can easily wear people down.
Many want to get on with their lives without being constantly told by their political leaders that the country is either a Garden of Eden or a modern replica of Dante’s Inferno.
So it is refreshing when one reads about an initiative that is built on the noble human values that so many of us treasure.
The initiative of government support agency Appoġġ to fulfil the dreams of more than 700 children who live in out-of-home care or who are at risk of poverty must be a tonic to those who are suffering from political-bickering fatigue and want to hear some good news for a change.
As Christmas approaches we seem to warm up to the idea of looking around us and observe how some of us are deprived of the simple things that so many take for granted in an affluent society.
The Children’s Dream campaign being conducted by Appoġġ is quite novel but if managed effectively it can help to bridge the widening gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ in our society.
It is a sad reality that the number of children who are living in poverty is far too high in Western societies, including in Malta. Some children are often deprived of the joy of childhood and turn into adults prematurely often assuming responsibilities that they are not prepared to shoulder.
We need to restore the joy of childhood to these children because it is their right to be happy and because a truly fair and caring society cannot let them be treated as second-class citizens simply because of the difficult financial and social environment they live in.
Appoġġ social worker Eman Galea says that when he asks children what they really want as a dream gift they often reply by asking for a blanket or a heater. One cannot but feel ashamed that our society allows such situations to persist.
It is easy but insensitive to conclude that it is the duty of the government or the Church to cater for these needs because it is really the duty of us all to support each other if we really believe in a fair society.
To address the question of how to tackle the problem of child poverty it is important to discuss the educational reforms needed to help children achieve more in their school years despite the disadvantaged environment they live in.
It is also important to help the parents of these children to exit the vicious circle of lack of motivation, unemployment or badly paid employment, as well as a defeatist mindset that makes them dependant on State handouts.
But there are other issues that can improve the quality of life of children who struggle to survive in our society. These issues may not be as lofty as the long-term strategic plans for addressing poverty but are just as important. Making the small dreams of deprived children come true is one such issue.
The stuff that poor children’s dreams are made of is often quite simple. Helping these children achieve these dreams, not just at Christmas time but throughout the year, is a moral obligation of all those who really believe in the importance of social solidarity irrespective of their religious belief.
The response of the public to Appoġġ’s appeal to fulfil the dreams of poverty-stricken children should be generous and constant.