Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1539150
4 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 5 SEPTEMBER 2025 NEWS THE Malta Human Rights Edu- cation Centre (MHREC) is invit- ing the community to take part in a new and innovative project that brings human rights into everyday conversations. Titled "The ABCs of Human Rights: A Community Voice Project," the initiative will use the al- phabet as a creative framework to explore and discuss key hu- man rights principles. The project consists of two interactive sessions. The Gozo session is on Saturday 4 Oc- tober 2025 at 15:00 Xewkija Volunteer Centre, Triq il-Ma- donna Tar-Rummiena, Xewki- ja, XWK 9082. The other event takes place earlier in Malta on 20th September at 11:00 at Ronald McDonald House Char- ities,Triq Wileg Qawra, SPB 1922. "Participants are invited to re- flect on what human rights mean in their daily lives and co-create a booklet based on their shared experience. The intention is to create a space where people feel empowered to connect human rights with their own experienc- es. The ABC format is simple, accessible, and participatory as it allows everyone to have a say," the MHREC said. The centre said the booklet will serve as both an educational re- source and voice for participants themselves. "The booklet will be launched publicly and shared with local stakeholders to en- courage ongoing dialogue about rights at community level." Par- ticipation is free of charge, and aged 18+ participants are wel- come to join. For more details and registration please visit www.maltahrec.com/abc This non-formal learning op- portunity is co-funded by the European Union under Eras- mus+ through the Directorate for Lifelong Learning and Em- ployability (DLE) within the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation (MEYR). MHREC launches 'ABCs of human rights' community project: exploring rights through everyday voices CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Accessibility Among the proposals, the Chamber is calling for an over- haul of transport and connec- tivity. It urged fast-tracked in- vestment in Mġarr Harbour, including land reclamation to expand berthing capacity and integrate green infrastructure in preparation for future ferry electrification. Furthermore, the Chamber said that stricter governance of ferry priority passes, upgrades to Ċirkewwa Terminal such as digital queue management sys- tems, and enhancements to the fast ferry service through in- creased frequency and new time slots were needed. It also called for better maintenance cycles and contingency planning for Gozo Channel operations to avoid disruptions. Diversification The Chamber said that Gozo should be rebranded as an "in- novation hub," with a focus on attracting startups with govern- ment support. Proposals also include cashback incentives for small businesses investing in digitalisation, subsidised digi- tal audit vouchers, and support for internationalisation through trade fair participation and a proposed "Gozo Showcase" meeting space in Valletta. It also recommended the cre- ation of a one-stop enterprise hub in Gozo, bringing together government agencies such as Malta Enterprise and the MFSA to streamline services. Stronger integration The Chamber emphasised the need for a stronger workforce and education framework. It proposed the establishment of a migrant workforce integration unit, new sector-specific train- ing at MCAST Gozo in fields such as renewable energy, AI, and agri-tech, and the expansion of the Youth4Entrepreneurship Gozo initiative into a seed fund- ing and mentoring programme. Furthermore, it recognised the pressures faced by small businesses and recommended a €3,000-per-year support scheme for micro enterprises to fund staff well-being activities such as counselling. Property sector On property, the Chamber proposed a more advantageous tax rate for long-term co-own- ers who sell their share to an- other co-owner, particularly in cases involving heritage build- ings. The measure is aimed at preserving cultural assets and encouraging continuity of own- ership. The Chamber said these measures reflect a "place-based approach" tailored to Gozo's structural challenges while re- maining aligned with national and EU frameworks. It urged government to translate busi- ness optimism into concrete ac- tion in the 2026 budget. Gozo Chamber calls for fast-tracked investment in Mgarr Harbour Mgarr Harbour (Photo: Maltatoday) The Gozo session will take place on 4 October in Xewkija