The Minister for Gozo, Dr Anton Refalo has visited 'Ta Trudy' farmhouse in Sannat, where a group of people with special needs who attend the Santa Marta Day Centre are taking part in a 3-day live-in.

This activity was organised by the Management team at Santa Marta in order to give those who attend the Centre an opportunity to gain experience of living more independently.

This 3-day programme was made possible through the assistance of the Baron Group of Companies in Victoria, Gozo, who kindly offered the farmhouse free for the venture. The farmhouse can accommodate up to twelve people.The Santa Marta Centre said that the live-in participants will not only be given assistance on how to live independently, but it will also help them both psychologically and emotionally.

During the three days the programme of activities will include practical information about how to live more independently, while also learning to relate and associate with each other positively, in a calm, relaxed, and different environment from usual.

There will also be a chance for them to try pilates, Wii games and board games, as well as go on excursions in the countryside and places of interest of the locality, not forgetting beauty treatment therapist and hairdresser, preparing and cooking food, teamwork, and group discussions among others.

Two young Year-10 students from the Ninu Cremona School, who have already followed several computer courses at the ECDL Centre, will have the first opportunity to participate actively in this activity through the Job Exposure Experience.

This will help to enrich the lives of the disabled participants and for them to integrate into society. The integration into society, and the knowledge of society in general with regard to the realities of the disability sector, are the main objectives of the Santa Marta Day Centre.

A large number of students from Gozo Secondary Schools visit the Centre every year with their teachers as part of this work knowledge.

Dr Refalo expressed his satisfaction at this live-in activity and augured that this same experience should be repeated again over the next year, so other groups of people who attend the Centre also have the opportunity of this positive experience, which will impact in their daily life and the way they view them themselves.

Photos: MGOZ/George Scerri

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