Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/560195
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 23 AUGUST 2015 42 This Week Marigold Foundation – BOV in the community supports Inspire's Summer School EARLIER this month, Michelle Muscat as chairperson of The Marigold Foundation – BOV in the community, visited Inspire's inclu- sive summer school in Marsascala and presented a cheque in support of the initiative. The Inspire Summer School caters for children of all abilities between the ages of 3 and 12. It focuses on full inclusion of children with dis- abilities who get the opportunity to interact and socialize with children of typical development. This is done through the various daily activities such as horse riding, pottery, mu- sic, dance, arts, crafts and outings, organized by the dedicated staff at Inspire. "It is thanks to support such as this that the Inspire Summer School can keep running," explained Antonello Gauci,CEO at Inspire. "In order to keep hosting children with dis- abilities for free, we need monetary support as well as applications from children of typical development. "Unfortunately Inspire remains one of the very few summer schools that caters adequately for children with disabilities. In future we would love to see other schools opening their doors to children with dis- abilities, thus taking our society a step closer to being a fully inclusive one." This year, The Inspire Summer School welcomed 99 children, 34 of which have a disability. Chil- dren with disabilities attend free of charge except for the LSA fee when required. Michelle Muscat emphasized that having a summer school that caters for both children with disabilities and others who go through a nor- mal development, is beneficial to both. "It gives children with disabili- ties a chance to be in an inclusive environment and the possibility of reaching their full potential, whilst other children learn how to care, how to cope and how to empathise with their peers. This augurs well for their behaviour as adult citizens." The Inspire Summer School is one of the many services that Inspire provides for families with children with disabilities. Today, Inspire helps over 1000 individuals with various disabilities ranging from Down Syndrome, Autism, Cer- ebral Palsy and others. This is done through many services and disabil- ity programmes. Inspire requires a total of €3 million a year to keep running. For more information or to make a donation visit www.inspire.org.mt World Children's Picture Contest 2015 launched THE IE-NO-HIKARI Association in Japan is currently organising the 23rd Annual World Children's Picture Contest. This contest has been orgainsed since 1993 with the aim of creating friendship among children all over the world as well as to assist in the development of their personality. This year's theme is The Environ- ment and participants are being asked to draw pictures in relation to Agriculture, Farming, Nature, Local People or even people with- in the Family Environment. The organisers will choose one hundred and twenty winners from all the pictures submitted, 20 young people will be awarded a Gold Prize, 40 young people will be awarded a Silver Prize and 60 young people will be awarded a Bronze Prize. All the winners will be awarded a certificate of merit as well as a commemorative gift. 80 young people will be awarded a certificate of merit and they will be given an Honourable Mention. Some drawings may also be used for promotional material in Japan. In last year's edition, Svetlana Scott, an eight-year-old from Mal- ta received a Bronze Prize for her picture entitled 'Family Day Out'. The competition is open to all children between the ages of six and 15 from all over the world. Each participant may not submit more than one picture, and each picture must be the work of one young artist only. Any materials may be used in creating the art- work. The picture should not be larger than 728mm by 515mm and should not be thicker than 3mm. For further information, one can call or email Suzanne Gili on 21485180 or email suzanne.gili@ gov.mt. All children, living in Malta and Gozo, interested in participating in this important event are re- quired to submit their drawings to the Office of the Commissioner for Children, 16/18, Tower Prom- enade, St. Lucija, SLC 1019 by not later than Friday 11 September, 1.00p.m. The drawings will then be sent by the Office of the Com- missioner for Children to the or- ganisers in Japan. On a separate sheet of paper, all participants should write the ti- tle of the picture as well as their name, age, date of birth, address and contact telephone number. The awards will be announced at the end of January 2016. The Prime Minister's wife (third from left) at Inspire's inclusive summer school in Marsascala