Peter* only learnt how to communicate with other children at the age of 10, when he was uprooted from his village and hosted at a home for youngsters with challenging behaviour.

The move presented a big challenge to the “rebellious” boy, but it was crucial for him to start coping with the depression that had gripped him at such a young age.

Peter is one of 34 children who could easily have been shunned by society, or admitted to a mental health hospital, but was instead given one-on-one care by Richmond Foundation’s Kids In Development (KIDs) residential programme.

A decade from its conception, the home that hosts this programme is relocating from Żejtun to Ħamrun and Richmond needs help for refurbishment – whether financial or in kind.

The professionals that work at KIDs help children who have experienced severe emotional and behavioural difficulties develop healthy attachments, a sense of self-worth and personal development in a safe environment.

KIDs programme manager Andrew Barberi.

Ten years after he set foot in the home, Peter told The Sunday Times of Malta that although at the time he did not appreciate his move there, if he had to relive the experience now, he would do it all over again.

“Nowadays I realise how crucial those two years were for me, considering that my love for education blossomed there, and I actually fared better at school.

“But the most important thing I learnt there was respect, especially towards those taking decisions for my wellbeing.”

Peter recalled how after his initial reluctance to settle down, he learnt how to integrate within society and communicate with children his age.

But above all, the therapy he received there and the one-on-one attention helped him find the will to cope with depression.

Filling a lacuna

When KIDs was launched in 2007, it filled a lacuna for children in out-of-home care who developed challenging behaviour after experiencing trauma, abuse or instability, programme manager Andrew Barberi said. These children were being hosted in residences for children or Mount Carmel Hospital.

“There are children who never know whether their parents will be home when they return from school, or which house they will be sleeping in at night. At times they do not even know whether they would be returning to school the following day. The message they get from birth is that they can live life according to what they feel like, without any rules and structure.”

Others have experienced violence and challenging behaviour in their own caregivers, so they grow up believing that this is the norm, he explained.

Do these children suffer from mental health issues? While some might suffer depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, all of them have some form of emotional distress that could develop into a mental health issue.

KIDs is not a long-term residential programme but lasts a couple of years. A maximum of nine children live at the home at any given time, with the age of referral spanning between seven and 10.

The children following the programme have to learn to live with others, after years of surviving on their own when their caregivers could not care for them. 

There they learn to be responsible and accountable for their actions in the simplest of ways – such as making their bed for the first time.

The professionals at KIDs try to work with their caregivers as well, however it is at times challenging as they too would have a lot going on. 

Nowadays I realise how crucial those two years were for me

KIDs is hosted in a house in Żejtun that is lent by the Church but which is now needed for another use. They have been offered an alternative home in Ħamrun, which will actually improve the service, as the therapy and visiting blocks will be separate from the living quarters.

Richmond is also hoping to be able to increase its outreach and meet up with children with challenging behaviour at their biological parents’ house.

In 11 years, Mr Barberi has faced several challenges and limitations, but he feels privileged to be a small part of these children’s lives.

“The simplest things – seeing two children hugging, passing on some advice we give them or coping better at school – makes it all worthwhile in the end.”

He recalls a recent encounter, when the intercom rang at his office. “When I heard the other person’s voice I initially hesitated, as I remembered how 10 years ago he would cry his heart out saying he didn’t want to remain at the home.

“As we leafed through photos of his time there, and he explained how moved he was by the care he had received, I realised that while children generally never want to be plucked out from their biological parents’ home, they will eventually understand how loved and cared for they are.”

Unfortunately, society labels children with challenging behaviour as ‘naughty’, and they will live up to that expectation. Their behaviour is our fault, and we need to support them to unlearn what they have learnt in the initial years of their life, he added.

*Name has been changed

More information on info@richmond.org.mt or 2122 4580.