ASSISTING VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

In Malta,MOAS is committed to supporting and assisting asylum seekers and refugee communities present on the island, to facilitate integration and improve independence.

We run several different projects ranging from education and personal development initiatives, culture and wellbeing to English language classes.

We hope to achieve increased integration and independence for vulnerable migrants living in Malta, with an aim of benefiting the Maltese society more widely.

One of the major projects on the island is the provision of Information and Learning Centres in the refugee camps at Hal Far. MOAS is establishing multifunctional learning spaces at the Open Centres. The curation of these centres has been guided by beneficiary needs. We conducted interviews with migrants and NGOs to establish the key services that would be beneficial at the centres. These learning centres are equipped with educational resources such as computers, books and other learning tools and the centre’s residents will have access to educational opportunities, training and vocational activities, CV writing workshops, job support and much more.

MOAS has delivered also a Remote Learning Initiative in Malta. This project in ongoing and provides tablets and modems to migrant families and students to help children and full-time adult learners keep up with their studies.

We provide an ‘English for Beginners’ course to residents at some of the transitional housing centers: this course is adapted according to the needs of the asylum seeker beneficiaries and the aim is to build confidence in listening to and speaking English. The lessons, which focus primarily on conversational English, both boost the participants’capacity to integrate into the local community and better access community resources. English language acquisition can be vital for participants to access better employment and build connections in the community. Ultimately, English classes play a vital role in the holistic well-being of refugees and the societies that welcome them.

MOAS is continuing to provide support to migrants with complex health needs on the island. We organise Hospital Visits to migrants receiving treatment, to ensure they felt supported and had access to services; we also provide them with care packages to support them through recovery. We have helped co-ordinate at home care for individuals who need additional support once they return home after treatment.

Launched in 2021, the Family Hosting Project was the first of its kind in Malta. The aim of the project is to allow vulnerable migrants with an interest in furthering their education, to be matched with local families who are ready to offer accommodation and integration support as part of a 1 year transitional program.

The project has recently been expanded with the Sponsorship initiative, to allow individuals and families unable to host migrants in their homes to sponsor participants living in the community through a mentoring program by offering social support, guidance and family interactions to further promote independence and integration.

The 2022 Integration Through Education and Information project sees MOAS coordinating activities with stakeholders from voluntary organizations and migrant communities, to foster community engagement, inclusion and integration. Better coordination among local activity leaders is important to help enhance diversity and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of service provision. This project has been funded through the Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector.

Our projects focus on supporting beneficiaries to gain autonomy, continue their education and boost inclusion and integration.
We want participants to be able to actively contribute to the society and use the skills and connections they develop through our projects, to facilitate their growth and self-sufficiency within a new social setting.

 

MOAS Newsletter

Get updates delivered straight to your inbox.