Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/506094
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 3 MAY 2015 12 News MIRIAM DALLI IN its first operation in 2014, the Migrant Offshore Aid Station saved 3,000 lives in 60 days. Less than a year later, the vessel the Phoenix has set sail once again for a six-month operation, confident that the MOAS concept works. Last year, MOAS was fully funded by the Catrambones – the millionaire couple who became the first philan- thropists to launch a privately funded mission to help migrants in trouble at sea. Months of campaigning have now secured a partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors With- out Borders) and brought on board German donors Oil & Gas Invest. Through crowdfunding, MOAS is estimated to have raised roughly €1.5 million. With an estimated monthly cost of around €600,000, MOAS has so far been able to guarantee the boat's op- eration for the next six months. "We want to be out at sea for 12 months," founder Christopher Catrambone said. MOAS is now running on its own feet, with its own partners and its own management. But continuous sup- port from the public is what makes the mission's success possible. The 40-metre long MY Phoenix is equipped with two Schiebel remote piloted aircraft (CAMCOPTER® S-100) monitoring the seas from the sky and providing real-time intel- ligence to MOAS and the Rescue Coordination Centres of Malta and Italy. The drones will be flying closer to the Libyan coast, after permission was obtained to fly in the Libyan flight information region. The mission, led by former AFM commander Brigadier Martin Xuer- eb, is composed of a professional crew of rescuers, seafarers, paramedics and humanitarians. MSF will be handling the post-rescue care of the migrants, enabling the crew to focus on the res- cue part of the mission. "The tragedies that have occurred have taught us that people could also die simply by not having the appro- priate shelter and medical treatment on board. We operate a highly pro- fessional search and rescue mission, making use of 21st century technol- ogy," Catrambone said. Come June, a second private initia- tive – Sea Watch – will be combing the Mediterranean for those in peril. The German search-and-rescue ship will also be based in Malta. Catrambone, who said he was very thrilled that other people have taken up the act to do something, said it was very important to understand that such operations are "very tactical" and require experience in how a res- cue mission should be conducted. "You have to be very careful in how to approach vessels carrying migrants and you should always be in touch with the rescue coordination cen- tres," he said. John Hamilton, deputy operations officer, is the first person to reach the migrants as soon as a vessel is spot- ted. The Phoenix has two Rigid-Hull inflatable Boats (Rhibs), which are de- ployed to reach the migrants. "As soon as we locate someone who knows English we tell them to remain calm and that we're there to help them as it is highly important that they do not destabilise the boat," Hamilton said. The crew would then proceed to hand over life jackets before the trans- fer from one vessel to the other kicks off. The procedure is always the same: first the children, the sick, the women and the men. "They pass through what we call 'the door of hope'," Hamilton explained, referring to a gangway located at the side of the Phoenix. The partnership with MSF has se- cured for MOAS the necessary medi- cal equipment that can save lives: it has the capacity to provide artificial respiration, is equipped with a cardiac monitor and an automated external defibrillator (AED) and can check glucose and blood pressure or detect diseases such as malaria. "We are able to provide help to a person who's had difficulty breathing or maybe was very close to drowning or someone who suffered a heart at- tack; These are the things we are pre- pared to do… including doing deliver- ies," nurse Mary Jo Frawley said. Frawley, who has served with MFS in several crisis-hit zones, said the medical crew was trained to give post- rescue care to migrants, aware that the few minutes the doctors and para- medics share with the rescued persons would truly be life-saving moments. The Phoenix is equipped with blan- kets, food, water, track suits, baby clothes, diapers, bottles and medici- nals including insulin. "We are here to prevent loss of lives and alleviate suffering. We want to be able to provide the necessary care and respond to any distress call in the best way possible," Will Turner, MSF emergency coordinator, said. MOAS has also gained the attention of Kristian Kiehling, who played Aleks Shirov in EastEnders. The son of two refugees, Kiehling lost his father 20 years ago. His father was captain and he drowned while on duty. "My own experience connects me with the people and I simply refuse to accept that lives can be lost in this way… So I'm going to speak about the heroic work MOAS does and urge people that they can do something too to save lives, and donate money," Kiehling said. Catrambone, along with his wife Re- gina and daughter Maria Luisa, relo- cated to Malta in 2008. When 400 mi- grants drowned near Lampedusa, the Catrambones decided to act against the "globalisation of indifference", as Pope Francis had called it. "I've been on every operation MOAS has conducted and I used to ask the people that we saved, especially those with children, how they could have risked their children's lives by making the dangerous crossing," Catrambone said. "The answer was the same every time: 'we know that there is a chance of dying and if we don't make it, we're prepared for that'… so they'll either get to Europe or die trying." CALL FOR SERVICES FOR LOCAL CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS TO UNDERTAKE THE PROCESS OF THE KEY DELIVERABLES OF ESF PROJECT 1.228 The Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education within the Ministry for Education and Employment is issuing a Call for Services to attract Local Curriculum Development Experts to fill positions for subjects / subject groups / experiences as detailed below related to the below EU co-funded project: ESF 1.228 – Design of Learning Outcomes Framework, associated Learning and Assessment Programmes and Related Training Positions for Subjects / Subject groups / experiences are as follows: a. Local Curriculum Development Experts to validate the Learning and Assessment Programmes for Core Mathematics and ICT. b. Local Curriculum Development Experts to develop the Learning and Assessment Programmes for Maltese as a Foreign Language and 4 VET subjects. c. Local Curriculum Development Experts to develop the Learning and Assessment Programmes for the Early Years Childhood Education and Care sector. d. Local Curriculum Development Experts to act as validators and consultants for the Learning and Assessment Programmes for the Early Years Childhood Education and Care sector. e. Local Curriculum Development Experts to develop the Learning and Assessment Programmes for the Entry Levels sector. f. Local Curriculum Development Experts to act as validators and consultants for the Learning and Assessment Programmes for the Entry Levels sector. The aim of the ESF Project 1.228 is to design a Learning Outcomes Framework (LOF), including the Learning and Assessment Programmes associated with it. The project involves the development of the Learning Outcomes Framework for the eight Learning Areas and the six Cross-Curricular Themes as described in the National Curriculum Framework (2012). It also involves the development of Learning and Assessment Programmes for the different subjects from Early Years to Year 11 of compulsory schooling. An information session for prospective applicants will be held on Tuesday 5 th May 2015 at 9:00 am at the Customer Care Boardroom, Ministry for Education and Employment, Great Siege Road, Floriana. Information about this Call for Services and the Application Form to be submitted by the Local Curriculum Development Expert are available from the website: http://education.gov.mt/en/Pages/vacancies.aspx. Applications will be received by the Customer Care Section, Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education, Great Siege Road, Floriana, VLT 2000, or Education Office, Fortunato Mizzi Street, Victoria VCT 2000, Gozo. Applications can also be submitted through the on-line Government Recruitment Portal on http://recruitment.gov.mt/. Operational Programme II – Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life This call is being considered for European Union part-financing European Social Fund (ESF) Co-financing rate: 85% EU Funds; 15% National Funds Investing in your future The vessel of hope sets sail for six-month operation Co-founder Regina Catrambone looks on as the MOAS ship the Phoenix sets off on her six-month operation