For the 11th consecutive year, the St Paul’s churchyard in Rabat witnessed an energetic water gaming activity with the theme ‘Games for everyone’ – an activity held over a week that saw teams of children and young adults enjoying a competitive atmosphere.
All this thanks to a strong young youth committee called Żgħażagħ Rabtin Pawlini, with the participation of the Responsible Gaming Foundation and the Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Parliamentary Secretary Silvio Schembri attended this activity, commenting that he was very impressed with the strong enthusiasm and organisation shown for such an event dedicated to children and young adults. Schembri said that such activities challenge our young ones physically and hence manage to stay away from addictions such as gambling. As he thanked the young group committee Żgħażagħ Rabtin Pawlini and the Responsible Gaming Foundation, the Parliamentary Secretary ended his speech by saying that “everyone should be at the forefront to encourage activism and invaluable volunteering in local localities such as this’’.
The general manager of the Responsible Gaming Foundation (RGF), Priscilla Muscat, talked about the importance of awareness about responsible gaming. She referenced the Education Campaign among fourth year primary students, where RGF staff visit schools around Malta and Gozo alongside their mascot Chippy, to describe and discuss the problems of people who take up compulsive gambling from an early age. “Gambling is an addiction that carries with it negative consequences’’.
The chairman of the Youth Committee Żgħażagħ Rabtin Pawlini Henry Debattista, vice chairman Adriano Farrugia and Secretary Norbert Inguanez thanked all those who participated in their utmost for these events. They also thanked the registered participants who took part in the games with zeal and the sizeable audience, which was not short of applause and encouragement during all segments of the sport events.
RGF provides an anonymous freephone service specifically for the use of sufferers of gaming addiction or friends and relatives of addicts, which can be called for support. The number 1777, may be called at any time and is manned by the foundation’s highly trained staff, who provide assidtance and aid to all callers in need.