Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1253597
EVERY story puts a calming spell on you because for a while it pulls you into a world which is different to the one you are living in. It's true that you will have to face troubles which bring along with them some ex- citement, however, after a while, these problems are resolved. And, come to think of it, won't you too somehow find a way of resolving your own problems? Lina Brockdorff M.A. née Ma- honey, was born in Senglea in 1930. During the seventies she wrote, produced and present- ed various Rediffusion pro- grammes. She authored and presented the first dramatized version of George Zammit's 'Wenzu u Rożi' series for Redif- fusion as well as a good number of radio plays, many of which placed first in various competi- tions. With Horizons she has also published the following novels: Katrina (2015), Mal-Fwieħa tal- Ward (2015), Luciano (2016), 'Il Barra mill-Isqaq (2017), Taħt is- Swar tal-Imdina (2017), Dwett għal Żewġ Vjolini (2017), Ladar- ba dar ir-Riħ (2018) and Meta Traxxax ix-Xita (2018), as well as the following collections of short stories: Ħin l-Istejjer (2017), Madwar il-fuklar (2018), Minn Żmien l-Għerien (2018), Qabel tbaxxi d-dawl (2019), Xewqa ta' tfajjer u stejjer oħra (2020) and Mar-Rima tar-Rebbiegħa u stejj- er oħra (2020). maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 MAY 2020 8 CULTURE NATURE A rather strange name for a beautiful plant. It has Malta in its name because it's endemic, meaning it only grows here and nowhere else on the planet. Its Maltese name is Sempreviva t'Għawdex, which is more accurate as the plant only occurs in the wild in Gozo, and then only along the western cliffs. That makes it doubly precious as it's so rare. It's a dense low shrub of very pale greyish foliage that at this time of year will be crowned with lavish bright chrome yellow flowerheads. So if you are walking in the Dwejra area, look out for this blonde stunner but don't go picking its flowers as it's a protected species (don't pick wild flowers anyway, it's a nasty habit!). The Maltese Ever- lasting also grows on Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral, that lone stack just off the cliffs of Dwejra. But don't go climbing on the islet as it's a strict nature reserve and a no-go area. Text: Victor Falzon Photo: Joe Sultana 713. MALTESE EVERLASTING Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 609 Find out more: www.foemalta.org/goodfood Book Review Lanca gejja, Ohra sejra u stejjer ohra By Lina Brockdorff Horizons THREE CareMalta employees – Edel Borg Mizzi, Renata Zahra and Yasmine Seguna – have success- fully completed the Higher Diploma in Gerontol- ogy and Geriatrics (HDGG) from the University of Malta. Borg Mizzi and Zahra are lead care assistants at Zejtun home and Villa Messina respectively, while Seguna is active ageing coordinator at Ca- sa Arkati. The HDGG, conducted by the Faculty for So- cial Wellbeing, is equivalent to a National Qual- ifications Framework Level 5 and targets candi- dates who wish to expand their knowledge in the social, psychological, economic and biological processes of ageing and later life. The Higher Diploma provides students with transferable skills which will either aid them in entering ageing-related occupations or advance in their careers in the field of ageing. It provides a broadly based, multi-disciplinary perspective on ageing, later life and older persons, while al- so disseminating knowledge and skills related to clinical and practical interventions with older adults. It will also sensitise the students to the application of gerontological and geriatric re- search findings to practice. It is especially meant for those already work- ing with older persons and in the field of ageing, those who wish to work with older persons, and others who wish to commence their studies in the field of gerontology and geriatrics. In many ways, the Higher Diploma is a logical, perhaps essential response to the demographic trends currently being faced all over the world, including Malta: both the ageing of the popula- tion and the growth in life expectancy. Borg Mizzi has been employed with CareMal- ta since 2003. Her first role was that of a care assistant at Casa Arkati. After seven years, she worked as a senior care assistant at Roseville and later as lead care assistant at Zejtun home and Roseville. Borg Mizzi, who has followed a num- ber of courses offered by CareMalta and other institutions, has been in her current role since 2012. Zahra came to Malta as an Erasmus nursing student 11 years ago. In 2012, she joined Care- Malta as a care assistant at Zammit Clapp Hos- pital Residential Home and was promoted to lead care assistant at Villa Messina in 2017. She is responsible for all care-related activities, en- suring that residents enjoy personal independ- ence and quality care based on a person-centred approach. Seguna has been working for CareMalta since 2013, her first role being that of a care assistant and phlebotomist at the Zejtun home. Through further training, she was able to continue devel- oping her career, until she was promoted to ac- tive ageing coordinator. CareMalta employees complete Higher Diploma in Gerontology and Geriatrics