Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/770367
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 JANUARY 2017 10 News Open call for project proposals under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2014 – 2020 As the Responsible Authority for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Funds and Programmes Division (MEAIM) has launched the sixth call for project proposals under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund on 8 th January 2017. The open call for project proposals under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund will focus on the following National Objectives: National Objective – Asylum and Reception Addressing the need for renovation works to be undertaken in open centres managed by NGOs and for the implementation of integration programmes amongst migrants aimed at providing them with tools on their better integration in the Maltese society. Around €1,000,000 (EU 75% co-financing) will be allocated to the call. Beneficiaries need to contribute to 25% of eligible expenditure and any ineligible costs. National Objective – Integration Addressing the implementation of integration measures amongst Third Country Nationals aimed at providing them with language training and cultural orientation classes. Around €500,000 (EU 75% co-financing) will be allocated to the call. Beneficiaries need to contribute to 25% of eligible expenditure and any ineligible costs. National Objective – Return Addressing the organisation of Cooperation measures with third countries on return management. Around €500,000 (EU 75% co-financing) will be allocated to the call. Beneficiaries need to contribute to 25% of eligible expenditure and any ineligible costs. The National Programme outlining in detail the National Objectives can be downloaded at the following link: https://eufunds.gov.mt/en/EU%20Funds%20Programmes/Migration%20Funds/Pages/AMIF-2014-2020.asp Documents that need to be downloaded and submitted in hard copy to the Funds and Programmes Division by noon of the 3 rd of February 2017 can be found at the following link: http://eufunds.gov.mt/en/EU%20Funds%20Programmes/Open%20Calls/Pages/1st- Call-for-Project-Proposals-for-Integration-and-Return-Measures.aspx An information session to assist applicants to compile their proposals will be organised on the 18th of January 2017. Interested parties should download the registration form and submit their request for registration to: (fpd.meaim@gov.mt) at their earliest. Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund Co-financing rate: 75% EU Fund; 25% Beneficiary's Funds Sustainable Mangement of Migration Flows Students of religious studies confuse chastity with celibacy JAMES DEBONO SOME home truths from the Matsec examiners' report on the Religious Studies intermediate level test: masturbation is still a sin. It was one of several sins that students had to mention as a "sin against chastity" and to define what chastity meant. "The large majority of candi- dates gave correct examples of sins that go against chastity. The most common answers speci- fied masturbation, pornography, adultery, fornication, prostitution and rape as such sins," the report states. Students' belief that masturba- tion is a sin against chastity tallied with the official catechism of the Catholic Church, which defines masturbation as "the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleas- ure". Not just… it goes on to describe it as "an intrinsically and gravely disordered action," and that the deliberate use of the sexual fac- ulty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose." Most candidates described chas- tity as a moral virtue, a gift from God or "a fruit of the Spirit." But other candidates still confuse chastity with celibacy, and others believed chastity only pertained to priests or religious people. Indeed, chastity does not entail abstaining from sex but is under- stood as "the positive integration of one's sexuality, irrespective of the person's choice of state in life: married, religious, single or ordained." Seven in 10 candidates sitting for the exam chose to pen an essay on the Sacrament of Marriage. But when it came to explaining the meaning of mar- ried love, very few answered that it was the unity between the spouses and their openness to new life. "Many explained only the com- mitment for indissolubility. With regard to what makes a good mar- riage many kept on what one usu- ally hears in marriage homilies rather than giving the virtues per- taining to the Sacrament of Mat- rimony." A similar examiners' re- port for candidates sitting for the religion O level test reveals that although most students know the ninth commandment ("You shall not covet your neighbour's wife") they mistakenly interpreted this to mean, "Do not commit adul- tery". Indeed the ninth command- ment forbids carnal concupis- cence, or any intense form of hu- man desire. The report has highlighted the greater awareness of students on the Church's teachings on social justice and environmental issues. Most candidates answered cor- rectly as to why every human be- ing was bound to protect God's creation and make good use of it. A small but significant number even mentioned the 'Laudato Si' encyclical, which is still not in- cluded in the syllabus. And most students gave more than one op- tion on how to respect creation, with the majority of answers be- ing of "exceptional quality". "The candidates showed that they have a high awareness of the environment and the human duty to safeguard it, but only the very few showed how to improve it". 'Mutilation' of Mrabat stately home set for approval JAMES DEBONO THE Cloisters, a stately home on Mrabat Road in Sliema, is one step nearer to get an additional storey right on top, and a six-storey block of apartments on its grounds. This is because the Planning Direc- torate is now recommending the ap- proval of the application presented by Darren Desira on behalf of the Bilom Group. The apartment block will rise 21 metres above Triq Bonavita and Triq is-Sorijiet near the Convent of the Sacred Heart, at the back of the scheduled Grade 2 building. Last month MaltaToday report- ed that the Cloisters, a scheduled palazzo, is on sale for €3.7 million on a property website which states – incorrectly – that "the magnifi- cent palazzo" comes with "permits approved for a 34-room boutique hotel", apart from plans for a restau- rant, reception and parking. In real- ity the Planning Authority decision, by its Environment Planning Com- mission, will be taken on Friday. The Sliema Heritage Society de- scribed the project as the "mutila- tion of a historical building" and the "destruction of an extensive garden" which would set a precedent for the destruction of hundreds of similar properties. The terraced development, which reaches up to six storeys, will front Triq Bonaventura and Triq is-Soriji- et. The case officer's report refers to the endorsement of the latest designs by both the Design Advisory Com- mittee and the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage. The latest plans show the additional storey added on to the historical building built in a more traditional style. The Sliema local council had com- plained that no photos of the prop- erty had been presented, adding that "it is very likely that architectural elements of heritage value possibly worthy of retention might be found within this building". But the case officer insisted that since the developers have applied for an 'outline permit' – a preliminary permit to set the parameters of the development – photographic details of the interior of the building and its grounds are not required at this stage. "Internal photos were not provided at this stage since this is an outline application where with regard to the scheduled property only the prin- ciple of a vertical addition to such building was being assessed." This means that the PA would al- ready have committed the area for development before assessing these details. The case officer contends that the development is in line with policies encouraging the regeneration and rehabilitation of historical buildings and that the development on the gardens will be stepped down, thus following policy.