{"id":59658,"date":"2026-09-02T08:05:30","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T07:05:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=59658"},"modified":"2026-09-02T08:05:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T07:05:32","slug":"more-than-300-participants-from-38-different-nationalities-graduate-from-the-i-belong-integration-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/02\/more-than-300-participants-from-38-different-nationalities-graduate-from-the-i-belong-integration-program\/","title":{"rendered":"More than 300 participants from 38 different nationalities graduate from the \u201cI Belong\u201d integration program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the graduation from the national integration programme \u201cI Belong,\u201d organised by the Directorate for Human Rights and MCAST, the achievements of 306 participants from 38 different nationalities who successfully completed the second stage of the programme were celebrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I Belong assists with integration by providing participants with the knowledge and skills needed to actively participate in Maltese society. Through a cultural orientation and language learning programme, the programme helps people better understand the local context. This promotes inclusion, mutual respect and social cohesion between people of different backgrounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In her address, Minister for Equality and Civil Rights Rosianne Cutajar congratulated the graduates for the commitment and determination they showed throughout the programme, while stressing that integration is not just a matter of language learning or cultural awareness, but a process that allows individuals to fully participate in society, access opportunities and feel part of the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image alignleft uagb-block-579973ed wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-left\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pr261401a.jpeg ,http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pr261401a.jpeg 780w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pr261401a.jpeg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 150px\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pr261401a.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-59659\" width=\"432\" height=\"300\" title=\"Minister for Equality and Civil Rights Rosianne Cutajar\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Minister Cutajar stated that the I Belong programme is one of the main pillars of Malta&#8217;s integration policy, as it helps to strengthen social cohesion, mutual understanding and the active participation of people from different backgrounds in Maltese society. She went on to explain that when integration works, the benefits are felt by both migrants and Maltese society as a whole. She emphasised that integration is a shared responsibility that requires the collaboration of educational institutions, employers, civil society, local communities and all citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At her closing, Minister Rosianne Cutajar thanked the staff of the Directorate for Human Rights, educators, administrators and partners at MCAST for their commitment in delivering the programme. She wished the graduates success in their future, while affirming that their contribution will continue to strengthen the Maltese and Gozitan communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christie Spiteri, Assistant Director within the Directorate for Human Rights, said that this event is of particular importance for the Directorate as it strengthens collaboration between institutions and stakeholders in the promotion of human rights, equality and social cohesion. She stressed that such initiatives create space for constructive dialogue, help to increase public awareness of existing challenges and contribute to the development of a more inclusive and diversity-based policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the graduation, two participants from the I Belong programme also spoke, addressing those present in the Maltese language.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div><p id=\"pvc_stats_59658\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"59658\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p><div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>During the graduation from the national integration programme \u201cI Belong,\u201d organised by the Directorate for Human Rights and MCAST, the achievements of 306 participants from 38 different nationalities who successfully completed the second stage of the programme were celebrated. I Belong assists with integration by providing participants with the knowledge and skills needed to actively [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_59658\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"59658\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 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Lynch","author_link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/author\/bernardlynch\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"During the graduation from the national integration programme \u201cI Belong,\u201d organised by the Directorate for Human Rights and MCAST, the achievements of 306 participants from 38 different nationalities who successfully completed the second stage of the programme were celebrated. I Belong assists with integration by providing participants with the knowledge and skills needed to actively&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59658"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59661,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59658\/revisions\/59661"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}