How Neo inspired a gaming charity
One father is combining his passion for esports and community building to raise funds for the cause
When five-year-old Neo, who has autism, wanted to play with his toy horse, he couldn’t communicate this to his parents. Instead, he started saying random words like “cake” and “monkey”.
As his frustration at not being understood grew, he cried uncontrollably – until his parents presented him with his communication device.
He clicked on the word “horse” – and finally voiced what he really wanted.
“It becomes a vicious cycle when he can’t find the right word,” says his father, Joseph Facciol. “Since he’s had the device – almost a year now – it has helped him tremendously. It gives him a voice outside of his body.”
The device also helps Neo focus his communication. “He might say random words while watching a cartoon but when asked a direct question like ‘are you thirsty?’ he struggles to answer. With the device, he can clearly press ‘yes’ or ‘no’,” Joseph explains.
Now, Joseph, 36, is raising funds for the Malta Trust Foundation, which provided Neo and hundreds of other children with similar communication devices.
Since 2018, the foundation has supported around 700 children, offering devices as well as maintenance and repairs. Each device can cost between €3,500 and €20,000, depending on a child’s needs.
The device helps Neo focus his communication. Photo: Jonathan BorgJoseph is combining his passion for esports and community building to raise funds for the cause. A lifelong gamer, he began playing Tekken at the age of seven on the original PlayStation. At 17, he entered – and won – his first tournament at Junior College. Over the years, he went on to organise esports events and eventually founded Tekken City Malta.
His activities paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, as his wife, Muriel, was pregnant and the couple welcomed their two sons, Neo and Reeve. In 2022, Joseph returned to the gaming scene, rebranding his events as City of Fighters to welcome players of multiple fighting games.
City of Fighters has since held several charity tournaments. Last year, it raised €2,005 for the Malta Trust Foundation and Dar Merħba Bik. This year, with a growing community of over 250 players, Joseph is kicking off another charity tournament.
The charity tournament in aid of the Malta Trust Foundation will take place tomorrow and Sunday at Level Academy, Ħamrun, with support from Smash Malta and Gaming Rabbit.
Tomorrow at 12pm, the Super Smash Bros Ultimate tournament will take place. On Sunday from 10am it will be: Mortal Kombat 1, FC 26, Tekken 8 Junior Division and at 12pm it will be Tekken 8 Adult Division, with points recognised for the EMEA Tekken Cup 4.
All proceeds raised by City of Fighters throughout the year are reinvested into the community. This year, the organisation will also be bringing German professional Tekken player Sephiblack to Malta for a week-long bootcamp at the end of February.
The charity event will take place at Level Academy, within San Ġorġ Preca College, Ħamrun. For more information, visit the City of Fighters Facebook page or call 9945 9877.