Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1066826
16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 DECEMBER 2018 COMMERCIAL LifeCycle to offer psychological support to renal patients LIFECYCLE (Malta) Foun- dation, through the newly set up project called Renal Unit Support Health Hub (R.U.S.H.), will be offering psychological support to cur- rent kidney patients, in col- laboration with the Malta Chamber of Psychologists. LifeCycle will be introducing a voucher scheme whereby patients will be able to get free initial psychology ther- apy. Psychological support will be Lifecycle's main focus for 2019. It is a known fact that renal patients undergoing dialysis or transplant pro- cedures suffer from serious psychological issues that are often overlooked. This com- plex condition poses multiple challenges, and the LifeCycle Foundation will be assisting on these challenges through R.U.S.H. LifeCycle Founder Alan Curry said: "Although renal patients receive medical sup- port from their respective hospitals and clinics, they also need continuous help from psychologists, dieti- cians, nutritionists, trainers and family councillors. As LifeCycle, we strongly be- lieve that a meaningful and holistic support framework needs to be established in collaboration with medical professionals, in order to do this in a sustainable and du- rable manner. The increasing number of Maltese kidney patients and their families will in due course, see and feel an im- provement in their quality of life notwithstanding their difficulties." For the past 19 years, Life- Cycle Foundation has been focussing solely on assisting renal patients in Malta in a tangible manner. Renal fail- ure is a deadly, painful, mul- tifaceted disease, while con- sidering that the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and obesity is on the increase, more persons may be at a greater risk of kidney failure in the future. LifeCycle Chairperson Dr Shirley Cefai said: "Through R.U.S.H, our aim is to be able to offer a comprehensive support network for renal patients. Apart from psychological support, the programme will include disease and nutri- tional awareness, specialised lectures, fitness and walking activities, as well as targeting the determinants that cause kidney disease, which can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Over the coming years we will be integrating this con- cept into a holistic support system for renal patients, a unique system that, as a voluntary organisation with finite resources, has been in our sight for a number of years." Since 1999, LifeCycle Foun- dation has consistently fo- cused on raising awareness on renal failure and on rais- ing funds for renal patients. The funds collected from the yearly LifeCycle Challenge go towards essential life-saving equipment and improved fa- cilities, such as dialysis ma- chines, the sponsoring of the Twilight Shift Van, the soft- ware matching programme Traccia, the annual trip to Lourdes for patients and ac- companying medical staff, and towards kidney disease research at the University of Malta. JAYE Malta's celebrations of 30 years of entrepreneurship come to an end JUNIOR Achievement Young Enterprise Malta Foundation (formerly known as Young En- terprise) recently celebrated its 30th anniversary with two events – a seminar entitled Valuing Entrepreneurship Education in the 21st Century, and a dinner; with both events held at the InterContinental Malta on 5 and 6 December respectively. The seminar's objective was to discuss the impact of Valuing Entrepreneurship Education to Employabil- ity and Wealth Generation. It addressed the value that entrepreneurship education has towards the creation of a more adaptable, flexible and responsive work force. The event also focused on what is being done locally and abroad to validate entrepreneurship education initiatives that add value to the economy. The seminar was addressed by Hon. Dr. Christian Cardona, Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Busi- nesses, Hon. Evarist Bartolo, Minister for Education and Employment, and Caroline Jenner, CEO of JA Europe. The dinner delivered on its promise to celebrate the myriad alumni, teachers, and mentors who shared so many special experiences over the past 30 years. It honoured ex- participants who have gone on to become the leaders of some of Malta's most suc- cessful businesses; while pay- ing tribute to the hundreds of volunteers who, over the years, have contributed their time and energy to the Foun- dation. The celebration also commended the vision of the founders, staff, and board members of JAYE who have contributed to developing the organisation's unique ap- proach. The dinner was addressed by H.E. The President of Malta, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, who said that "Young Entre- preneurs can build a legacy of innovation which is fun- damental for the resilience of our societies. This is why the European Commission itself has recognised JAYE as a best practice in the sector, because it offers educational excellence in the area of en- trepreneurship. I therefore augur that JAYE will contin- ue its important work here in Malta, and across Europe for the benefit of our young peo- ple. I am truly proud of all the young people who are partic- ipating in this organisation, and working together to cre- ate more inclusive and more resilient societies." It has been a landmark year for JAYE Malta – the foun- dation also received MQF 3 Non-Formal accreditation for its middle and secondary school programmes as well as its post-secondary flagship programme, The Company Programme. Looking back on the 30th Anniversary events pro- gramme, Julian Azzopardi, CEO of JAYE Malta, said that "It was a week of stimulat- ing discussions on the value of entrepreneurship educa- tion and what JAYE Malta has contributed to Maltese and Gozitan youth over these past 30 years. We are encour- aged by the words of support shared by Her Excellency The President of Malta during our Anniversary dinner, by the Honourable Ministers Bar- tolo and Cardona during our seminar, and all the attendees of the events. It shows that we are as relevant today as we were 30 years ago. Thank you to all our supporters without whom we would not be here celebrating this landmark achievement." For more information about JAYE Malta, visit www.jaye- malta.org or follow @JayeM- alta on Facebook.