The new child daycare centre at Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesù domestic violence shelter in Santa Venera.

The Vodafone Malta Foundation donated equipment for a room that will serve as a daycare centre for children within the Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesù shelter for domestic violence victims and their children in Santa Venera.

Victims can then move to Programm Sebħ, which accommodates families who have suffered domestic violence in their own homes. Families are referred from the Domestic Violence Unit within Appoġġ.

“We are happy to be able to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people,” said the foundation’s chairwoman Ġemma Mifsud Bonnici.

“We truly hope that the child daycare centre will be a fun place where children can enjoy themselves safely.”

The main aim of the childcare centre is to encourage and enable the mothers to seek gainful employment or further their academic education while their children are being taken care of. The centre will be run professionally and regulated by national and EU standards.

“We are grateful to the foundation for its help,” said Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesù director Fr Victor Zammit McKeon.

“This, together with other facilities, will definitely help our mothers towards further empowerment and eventually towards becoming more independent.”

Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesù accommodates families, women and children who fall victims of domestic violence and are struggling to overcome their negative experiences.

Programm Sebħ is a therapeutic programme within Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesù, where families live privately in flatlets. The programme enables family members to regain self-esteem and learn social, life and academic skills.

Mothers also learn more about child rearing, home management and budgeting skills.

Families are supported and assisted by a professional team of social workers.