Centre for people with disability upgrading its facilities

By this time next year, Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija will have a centre to assist persons with a disability to get to know the world around them better.

The centre, which will offer stimulation for the different senses, is expected to cost about Lm150,000.

A sponsored walk for all state, Church and private schoolchildren will be held on November 7 starting at the Razzett to raise money for the centre.

The Razzett, situated at Marsascala, is now in its 15th year. It is a non-profit organisation providing educational, leisure and therapeutic services to disabled persons free of charge.

It all started when Paddy Stubbs, a British resident, started searching for a place to turn into a leisure centre for persons with a disability.

Speaking about her late husband's vision, Mr Stubbs' wife, Janatha, president of the Razzett, which is managed by a board of governors, said in an interview: "He did not want an enormous place like we have got. Indeed, it all started with a little farmhouse. But more and more people came along and we decided to get a bit bigger".

It was during the building of the Razzett that the family found out that Mr Stubbs was ill. "He did not see it finished but he did see the walls and could see that things were happening".

The Razzett has an animal park sheltering hens, ducks, monkeys, mountain goats, ferrets, a donkey, a deer, a couple of horses and a warren of rabbits.

"One of Paddy's aims was for ordinary schoolchildren to come to the Razzett. They would have something to come and see and, at some point, they would play games with children with a disability. They would swim with them too.

"Children with a disability will be able to handle animals they never handled before."

Mr Stubbs wanted people with a disability to enjoy themselves. But as people with a disability swim and work with clay they also improve their physical ability.

The Razzett employs 19 full-timers and has 35 volunteers. It costs close to Lm200,000 per year to run.

Children from schools come for a day and pay 50 cents each. Other means of raising money include hiring out parts of the premises, that are fully-equipped, complete with modular stage and a proper kitchen, to cater for meetings, conferences and seminars as well as for dinners and coffee mornings. The Razzett also houses a well-being and fitness centre for those who want to keep in shape.

The outdoor area is ideal for weddings and barbecues.

Talking about the animals, Mrs Stubbs recalled: "The Razzett had an extremely gentle ferret which somebody picked up and took away. You never thought of anyone doing that.

"Somebody else removed some metal bars, got into the Razzett and spirited away a pelican.

"As I do not think in a Maltese way: it did not occur to me that the first thing they must have done was kill and stuff it. I just thought they put it in their own garden.

"I was very upset as I was quite fond of this absolutely inanimate object. He used to sit there looking wonderful".

A lot of people used to consider children with a disability as statues but people are now realising that these "statues" should not be put into a cupboard. "Parents now realise that these children react and also how much difference one can make to a child without even intending to," Mrs Stubbs said.