Three-year-old Susie* runs from one bed to another in a residential home and calls out the names of the other children who sleep there.
The worst time for these children is when they start growing up and question why they’re there
The toddler shows off her developing verbal skills to the group of adults touring the apartments at Fra Diegu Home in Ħamrun, where she lives because her parents have drug problems and cannot look after her.
Susie soon grabs the hand of “Lady”, as she calls her, and points towards her favourite soft toy in her cot – a yellow-headed duck – in a clear message to retrieve the toy.
“Lady” – the Prime Minister’s wife Kate Gonzi – is more than happy to play with the child.
“Nowadays children’s homes are facing a lot of challenges. Most of the time these children’s parents are alive but cannot look after them for various reasons, including drug or alcohol problems or mental health problems like depression,” said Ms Gonzi, who chairs the HSBC Malta Foundation.
The foundation funded the refurbishment of the apartments at the home which provides bedrooms for the 10 children – five boys and five girls aged between two and 15. Fra Diegu also offers a day care service to another 12 children from families with social problems.
“The worst time for these children who live in homes is when they start growing up and question why they are there. This hurts them a lot. They question why they are not in a family... The teens are a difficult time for all but for children in homes they’re worse.
“We (the foundation) realised they needed a different type of help and started paying for the counselling of these children,” Ms Gonzi said.
She recalled the case of a young boy who remained silent despite being bullied for many years. But as he grew older, he started bullying others and was now undergoing counselling to help him resolve his issues. Over the past 10 years the foundation spent about €3 million, most of which was directed to children, she explained.
Projects include the refurbishing of areas in homes and schools and various educational events, including the sponsoring of diabetes camps to teach young children how to inject themselves with insulin.
Ms Gonzi thanked all volunteers involved for their hard work and encouraged others to join in the good cause.
*Name has been changed.