Marigold Foundation – BOV in the Community chairwoman Michelle Muscat recently visited Inspire’s summer school in Marsascala and presented a cheque to support the initiative.

The summer school caters for children of all abilities aged between three and 12, focusing on full inclusion. This is done through various children’s activities such as horseriding, pottery, music, dance, arts, crafts and outings.

“The summer school can keep running thanks to such initiatives,” said Inspire’s CEO Antonello Gauci.

“In order to keep hosting children with disabilities for free, we need monetary support as well as applications from children of typical development. Unfortunately, Inspire remains one of the very few summer schools that caters adequately for children with disabilities. We would love to see other schools opening their doors to children with disabilities, thus taking our society a step closer to being a fully inclusive one.”

Muscat with some of the children who attend Inspire’s summer school.

This year, the school welcomed 99 children, 34 of whom have a disability. Attendance is free for children with disabilities, except for when a learning support assistant is required.

Muscat said having a summer school that catered for both children with disabilities as well as others who experienced normal development was beneficial to both.

The summer school is one of many services Inspire provides for families with children with disabilities. Inspire helps over 1,000 children with various disabilities, including Down’s Syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy, through specialised services and disability programmes.

The NGO requires €3 million a year to keep running. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.inspire.org.mt.