Villa
Papa Giovanni was built on the site that had originally
accommodated the tennis courts in what had been the Qrendi
Royal Naval Rest Camp prior to it being assigned to Malta
Catholic Action and thence to Id-Dar Tal-Providenza.
Building
work commenced in 1971 and the new home was inaugurated
on the 19th March 1974.
The residence
has four large self-contained communal flats - two for
men and two women. Each flat has a large, airy common
TV/sitting room, a dining room and a kitchenette for supplying
light refreshments when it is called for - the main kitchen
supplies all of Id-Dar Tal-Providenza's residents' daily
meals.
The bedrooms,
all of which are accessed from a wide corridor leading
from the TV/sitting room are bright and cheerful, with
views of the well-landscaped gardens through the windows.
They are all very tastefully decorated and comfortably
furnished.
The building
contains a large Chapel in which the Eucharistic Feast
is celebrated daily with a congregation that not only
includes the residents but also their relatives and other
visitors.
Next to
the chapel is the Social Hall where the residents from
each of the four flats can meet and share their experiences
with each other.
The grave
of Id-Dar Tal-Providenza's founder - Monsignor Michael
Azzopardi 910.2.10 - 13.5.87) - is situated in the tranquil
landscaped gardens of this residence.
The team
of ability promoters, physiotherapists, communication
therapists and the podiatrist working within the Habilitation
Centre in Villa Papa Giovanni, strive daily to develop
both physically and mentally, using the most up-to-date
tried-and-tested techniques, specialist equipment in the
gymnasium and hydrotherapy treatment.
Villa Papa
Giovanni has a specialised occupational therapy department
that sets out to help the residents explore and develop
their creative talents using a variety of on-site facilities
including pottery and ceramics.
Music has
long been recognised as an important form of therapy and
as such is incorporated into residents' schedules on a
regular basis.
The Activity
Group has the responsibility of creating an all-year-round,
daily program of activities for the whole complex. This
embraces outdoor track and field events, culminating in
the annual sports day, and, when the weather is not being
kind, inside games such as table tennis, indoor bowling,
billiards and snooker etc. All of these physical recreational
activities have been modified, both in terms of participation
and the type of equipment used, to fit the needs of the
impaired participants.
The group
also organises eating out, trips in cars, trips using
public transport, visits to museums and places of historical
interest and occasional holiday breaks, for selected residents,
in Id-Dar Tal-Providenza's Gozo residence.
On a level
that encompasses both educational and enjoyment value,
the drama group has a high degree of support that comes
to a head at Christmas. Film shows and occasional visits
to the theatre and pantomime constitute part of this group's
program. Through drama, those able to participate, even
though impaired themselves, are in fact learning that
they have much to give by entertaining their less able
friends. |
