A group of 26 youngsters have spent a week carrying out voluntary work at the Arka Respite Centre in Għajnsielem.

The youths are members of Żgħażagħ Nazzarenu who meet at the Jesus of Nazareth Priory run by the Dominicans in Sliema. Their spiritual director is Fr Charles Tabone, OP.

They carried out maintenance work including the servicing of the air-conditioning system as well as of a number of vehicles, giving assistance to residents, cleaning and whitewashing, lending a hand in the kitchen, and all that was necessary for the day to day running of the house.

Mgr Manuel Curmi,director of the centre, thanked them for their invaluable work carried in such a short time.

Fr Tabone said it was also a spiritual experience as "we became closer to one another as a Christian Community and closer to God because we were instruments in His hands in bestowing upon his children the gifts of His Divine Providence".

At the end of their stay Fr Tabone, on behalf of the group, presented a donation of €1,500 to Mgr Curmi. The money was raised in June during a car wash organised by the group.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of the golden wedding anniversay of John and Marie Melloy, their relatives and friends donated the sum of €1,102 to the Arka Foundation.

Other couples are being urged to emulate such a gesture and come forward with their donations for a worthy cause.