Rotary Club Malta has just completed a project to enhance accessibility to drama facilities for disabled children at Gozo College Sannat Primary and the Special Unit in Sannat, Gozo. The school is the only one on the islands of Gozo and Malta that houses a Special Unit to cater for those students who have Special Needs in conjunction with other children.

The objective of this Special Needs unit is to ensure an element of inclusion for the children in the educational process and drama is seen as an important component, however the drama facilities at the school were not able to accommodate the 22 disabled children.

In stepped Rotary Club Malta who undertook a project to enhance the facilities in the theatre with the introduction of a self-managing hydraulic lift as well as a general overhaul of all facilities including lighting and sound. It was Rotary Club Malta’s aim and goal to re-construct the stage thus providing an inclusive centre, unique in its kind on the island of Gozo, where the Primary School and Special Unit students together with visiting students with special needs and their families can benefit by frequenting and utilizing the Drama Centre whilst effectively removing any delineation.

The €25,000 cost of the project was raised during fund raising events held by the club. Rotary Club Malta President 2008-09, Simon Bonello, was the mainstay behind engaging Perit Joseph Spiteri, an architect specialised in this field, to redesign the facilities in accordance with EU standards. A primary aspect of the project was the supply of a specialised lift to take wheelchair bound students onto the stage. The Ministry for Gozo were also instrumental in undertaking additional work in the school, complementary with the Rotary project.

Giovanna Debono, Minister for Gozo, inaugurated the refurbished hall in the presence of Past President of Rotary Club Malta, Simon Bonello, the current Club President, John de Giorgio, and various members of the board of Rotary Club Malta as well as the school’s Head and other officials from the education division within the Ministry for Gozo. The Minister acknowledged the initiative taken by Rotary Club Malta which added to the continuous endeavours of the Ministry for Gozo to provide better and more accessible facilities in line with government’s policy for inclusive education.

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