The Minister for Gozo and Planning Clint Camilleri and the Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi launched the Blossom pilot project. The ministers presided over the agreement between The Malta Trust Foundation and the Ministry for Gozo and Planning which was signed by the Founder and Chairperson of The Malta Trust Foundation, President Emeritus Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and the Permanent Secretary within the Ministry for Gozo and Planning Mario Borg.
The project consists of a counselling service in schools on the island of Gozo with the aim of building a serious, reliable and stigma-sensitive support structure, which will serve as a help not only today, but for the years to come. In addition, special attention will be given to transitions, from primary to secondary, from secondary to post-secondary, and even to tertiary level.
Minister Clint Camilleri stated, “This government is committed to continuing to invest in projects that improve people’s lives and today we can say that we are laying a new foundation for the future of mental health in Gozo. After opening Dar il-Kantuniera in Gozo a few years ago, which offers mental health services in the community, we are now taking another step on the path to a more inclusive, more courageous and above all more sensitive society to the needs of our children and young people. The Blossom project is designed to address this reality in a sensitive manner and with accessible services, free of charge, and very close to students, that is, directly in State schools.”
Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that through European funds, the Government is investing not only in infrastructure projects but also in the quality of life of the people of our communities. “European funds are helping us to create a concrete change in people’s lives, through investments in the mental health of our children and young people. This is an investment in people and in the future of the country,” reiterated Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi. The minister explained how this goal is being achieved thanks to various European funding programmes such as in this case, the European Regional Development Fund, and others such as the European Social Fund, Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps.
Founder and Chairperson of The Malta Trust Foundation Marie Lousie Coleiro Preca said that, “For The Malta Trust Foundation, it is of great satisfaction that through this partnership with the Ministry for Gozo and Planning we will be delivering counselling services in Gozitan schools, so that more children and young people have the support they deserve. I encourage more Gozitan professionals in the psychosocial field to be encouraged to be of service to Gozitan children and young people.”
Minister Clint Camilleri concluded by thanking everyone who worked on this initiative: the Malta Trust Foundation, the educational authorities, the schools and all the professionals involved as well as those who worked on the project from the Ministry for Gozo and Planning.
The Blossom project will not only be a therapeutic intervention, but also a collaborative and professional development initiative. Professionals will participate in team building activities, conferences and supervision sessions to ensure that the assistance provided is always of the highest level and consistent.
Photo: MGP-MFI
