‘Home-Start Gozo’ is funded by the Ministry for Gozo and is being run by Dar Guzeppa Debono, a Non Governmental Organisation which has been offering services and carrying out voluntary work for the past 27 years.

It is working in collaboration with Agenzija Appogg, the organisation which has supported Home-Start in Malta, with funds from HSBC Malta Foundation and Vodafone Malta Foundation, for the past six years.

Home-Start offers parent-to-parent support to parents who, for some reason or other, are finding it difficult to cope. Families who ask for this service are given the support and guidance needed when facing challenging situations. These may include illness, multiple birth, mental and physical disability, isolation and lack of parenting skills.

Parenting young children is very demanding and tiring. Parents often feel overwhelmed with the demands. This led to the creation of Home-Start in the UK, way back in the 70’s. There are now over 330 schemes in the UK and 100 schemes in over 20 countries worldwide, including Malta. Home-Start Malta started off in 2006 and is supported by Agenzija Appogg.

Support is offered through volunteers who are parents or by adults who have experience in bringing up children. Volunteers visit families in their own home on a regular basis to be able to carry out practical and emotional support according to a family’s particular needs.

Home-Start is currently seeking volunteers to help families who would like support. Preparation will be given to volunteers before being matched with a family.

Home-Start volunteers are persons who have a positive attitude towards family life, are understanding and accepting towards others and are good listeners. Volunteers regularly visit families in their own home to be able to support them in a practical manner, such as empowering a parent’s disciplinary measures with their children. Volunteers can also support parents by accompanying them to children’s health appointments.

A preparation course for volunteers prior to visiting families, is obligatory to ensure good preparation for home visits and a professional service. Families will have a volunteer matched based on their needs.

The final aim of Home-Start is to alleviate the stress, worries and concerns parents may be facing at a certain point in time and giving them more confidence in their role as parents whilst understanding what the family is going through.

It is meant to bring out positive experiences in family life and child rearing. Home-Start supports parents and carers to offer the best upbringing they can to children.

This is all made possible with mutual cooperation between volunteers and families, and is pursued until the family unit gains the necessary skills and confidence to enable it to cope on its own.

If you would like to join volunteers for ‘Home-Start Ghawdex’, and you think you have the skills and time to be a committed volunteer please call on 79067148, 21552595 or send an email on homestartgozo@gmail.com for more information. You can contribute towards a difference.

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