Popis organizace:

The Karl Vella Foundation (KVF) was established to provide educational and psychological assistance to children in families disrupted by serious illness of a family member. KVF is seeking to address the issues experienced by children in these circumstances by creating a welcoming environment for them at the centre in Attard, Malta. There, the children and adolescents who have family members with serious illnesses are encouraged to come and spend some time while their parents or siblings are receiving treatment or are in local or foreign specialised hospitals.

The children and adolescents who attend KVF get provided with help in various ways.

1. First of all they assisted in their academic work. Since they come to KVF straight after school hours and spend four hours there, they are provided with help during their homework by volunteers.

2. Secondly, they are helped by professionals if a need arises. KVF is proud to have a team of professionals made up of a number of psychologists, a counsellor, a psychotherapist, a youth worker and a drama therapist. One to one sessions are held to tackle issues personally.

3. Children and youth who attend the centre are also provided with group sessions that help tackle various issues which they could be commonly going through at this vulnerable time. The centre opens three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). On each day a session takes place. The group is divided into two smaller groups to allow better personal interaction with the professionals and with each other as a team. The smaller children learn through play and through creative art projects such as drama, crafts and using clay. The children who are 10 years or older are provided specialised sessions: with a psychologist, a youth worker and a drama therapist once weekly.

4. Apart from this, the children and youth are welcomed in a space which resembles that of a family setting. They have a place where they do their homework, a dining area, a living area, a kitchen, a therapy room, a recreational area with lots of outdoor space and lately four small rooms have been set up where the children/youth can do their sessions in a small group.

Despite the great work that is being done with these children and adolescents who are passing through a difficult time, there is still a lot to be done.