The Żabbar home, Dar Sagra Familja, celebrated its 25th anniversary yesterday, a quarter of a century of catering for problem children whose troubles have changed and, possibly, worsened with time.

But Mother Superior, Sr Rose Xuereb, who has been caring for these children from the day the home opened, is neither pessimistic nor put off by the challenges of today’s society.

On the contrary, yesterday, she inaugurated a “dream” that took her – and several benefactors – four years to fulfil.

Today, the home’s 14 “children”, aged between five and 22, can enjoy a spacious playground behind the building, complete with a five-a-side football pitch, swings, turf and flowers instead of what used to be a dangerous and empty field that also served as a rubbish dump.

“We have good living quarters but the children cannot play ball upstairs and they needed an outdoors area,” Sr Xuereb explains.

The Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition probably exceeded an original budget of €140,000 to fulfil their dream but they achieved it in the end and the children are so proud of their garden, especially when it is illuminated by night.

They are also happy to open it up to other homes that do not have a playground and for “our children’s children to play in”.

These simple pleasures bring happiness to children, who, by court order, have to be removed from their unstable families and those facing other problems that lead them to be separated from their parents. As a result of their background, they can be unstable, unruly, angry, rebellious and out to seek revenge.

Five nuns care for the 14 residents and they are supplemented by much needed volunteers and employees, who have pushed up the running costs. “Otherwise, we cannot cope and offer one-to-one attention,” Sr Xuereb explains. “We cannot just depend on the volunteers but we thank God we have them.”

The Conservatorio San Giu-seppe, as it is known, was the first institute in Malta, dating back to 1858 and located in Cospicua, moving to Żabbar in 1985. In the past, it may have been more a home for orphans but, today, it provides refuge for children who have to be removed from the parents and have grown to be more problematic over the years.

“I remember the older children would help us so much. Today, they are burdened by so many problems they can hardly take care of themselves, let alone of someone else.

“They find it hard to concentrate and we have to tell them what to do hundreds of times,” she says, with no anger in her voice, but aware that they can be a handful and that more help is necessary.

Sr Xuereb has witnessed society change and, with it, the problems of the children in her care.

She has appealed for more help from the government, pointing out it is hard to make ends meet despite the many donations and the fact that everyone receives a children’s allowance.

“It costs us about €900 a month to run the home and that does not include the many food donations and funds we receive from those who have ‘adopted’ us,” Sr Xuereb says, highlighting the fact that the children need psychological therapy and that school requirements have increased, text and copybooks no longer being subsidised.

“Life is hard enough as it is. We cannot just send them off to school in old uniforms. Whatever they need, they must have; they cannot appear worse off than anyone else,” she says, adding that, every Christmas, they receive a donation from overseas that goes specifically towards buying them new clothes like their peers have.

The children stay at the home until they get married and many return to visit, showing their appreciation once they have left.

“My ‘daughter’ – she had been with me since she was three – is now married and still visits,” says Sr Xuereb, rewarded by the children who have grown into happy people and lead a good life, despite the many odds.

“Some days, I am visited by even three of them at a go!”

Of course, some have also gone astray, even moving into prostitution or entering failed marriages and Sr Xuereb is saddened by it.

But following 25 years of “being like a mother to these children and doing what mothers do I feel very happy and have never been annoyed by any challenging behaviour”.

Happiest amid her flowers in the garden, she is looking forward for the trees by the wall to grow, not least to block out any taunts the children may have to withstand.

The inauguration was organised by TDM2000, an NGO that enhances youth participation in society, which also raised funds for the play area and awareness of the home’s needs. Now that its mission is accomplished, it is looking for another cause.

Sr Xuereb, however, has no more dreams in mind. “I’m tired,” she laughs energetically.