Learning at a normal pace was always difficult for Maria*. She has dyslexia, which hindered her learning abilities and led to her having very low self-esteem.

To change this, Maria sought help from Paulo Freire Institute in Żejtun. With support from dedicated tutors, she became eager to learn and determined to succeed.

The one-to-one lessons she received soon paid off. Maria was able to sit for the Maltese O level exam and she is now working toward her next goal: sitting for her English O level exam.

Stories like Maria’s serve as a driving force at the institute.

I worry because even counting their money is a problem

When a group of Jesuits set up home in a small alley in Żejtun, they immediately identified problems with literacy within the community. In 2000, after years offering weekly lessons to children with learning difficulties, the Jesuits decided to open the institute. There, they could tackle social problems while helping with literacy.

Today, the institute helps more than 60 families through counselling and other programmes. Volunteers tutor 35 primary school children and more than 60 adults are helped with literacy.

As Fr Vincent Magri, 62, the institute’s executive director, walks to the main classroom everyone has something to say to him. He turns nobody away.

Fr Magri explains that Malta’s illiteracy figures are quite high: the 2011 census categorised about 24,000 people as illiterate.

“We get adults still unable to recognise letters. I worry because even counting their money is a problem.”

The institute offers free one-to-one tutorials so individual attention is given. Claudia Borg, a volunteer who gives Maltese lessons, explains students’ attitudes towards learning.

“Some are highly motivated and show great interest. But we do get others who lack confidence and feel they cannot make it in life because they are illiterate.”

Tutor Joyce Pace is quick to add that there was some regret at not taking education seriously at a younger age and, in turn, working extra hard to make up for lost time.

Yet, the institute goes beyond literacy. It takes a holistic approach towards learning, incorporating recreational activities with educational ones.

“Why is one illiterate?” asks Fr Magri. “You need to start there and work towards finding the root of it all. Social problems easily block learning.”

At the institute, learning is about more than just letters and numbers, he explains: “We also teach self-worth. Education goes beyond finding a job: we aim to help people feel empowered and responsible within society.

“This should ultimately lead to better social inclusion.”

Some feel that they cannot make it in life because they are illiterate

Pauline Borg, a social worker, explains how the sense of community embraced by the institute encourages those with “an amassment of problems” to seek help.

“They feel comfortable here and so come willingly. Some want to learn how to deal with conflict, while others seek help with parenting skills. Very often this allows us to work on preventing further problems,” she points out.

Fleur Bianco, a psychotherapist, agrees.

“In a community setting, you can contain a problem before it’s too late. Within bigger contexts, say in an agency, help is sought when the problem is too deep.”

At the institute, every case is considered a success story.

“Even if it takes a person a year to learn two letters, that for me is success,” says Fr Magri.

“Results may not occur instantly. The most gratifying results are the little ones achieved after years of work,” Ms Borg adds.

Fr Magri admits that the institute does have its struggles and appeals to young people to do more voluntary work.

“I feel disappointed, for instance, when I cannot find one single volunteer willing to help a migrant couple eager to learn Maltese. That for me is failure.

“Youths need to realise that volunteering can be highly satisfactory. We’re going through a ‘globalisation of superficiality’, where everyone is preoccupied with personal gain. It’s an alarming situation.”

The informal environment at the institute draws people to the institute and, although it has been successful in various areas, the centre’s main focus will remain literacy.

“We are hitting the nail on the head with the work that we have been doing so far, so we will keep working on offering professional services within a family-like environment.”

* Name was changed to protect the person’s identity.