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Hospitality & Shelter for Immigrants and Refugees (Feb. 2002)

Civil war, ethnic cleansing and hate force families to be uprooted. Some family members have been killed, and the remaining family must flee, other family members die during their trip on land or sea. When they reach our land safely they are as considered illegal immigrants and have to go through legal procedures and formalities.

After spending eighteen months in detention according to Maltese Law these immigrants have to seek shelter in open centres. Hundreds of them under tents in Hal Far Tent Village, OIWAS, Appogg House and Good Shepherd Convent, Balzan.

Since February 2002 we give shelter and hospitality to 45 immigrants/ Later in November 2005 we signed an agreement with the Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity to provide accommodation at the Peace Lab to a maximum of 20 adult asylum seekers or irregular immigrants at one time.

The state provides for their basic care but we aim to enable them with a range of special needs to realize a better life, a life with dignity and opportunities to fulfil their potential and integrate intgo the communities in which they live.

The centre is opened two hours daily from 4.00 to 6.00 pm to meet other immigrants, provide them with information and education and responds to their needs. Our friendship and trust make a difference to these people who are often marginalised within our society.

The Peace Lab offers them not a handout, but a helping hand regardless of their race or religion.

We live alongside these poor communities trying to give a voice to the voiceless.

Through all our activities in church, schools and in the media we remind one and all of their duties of building a better, fairer, more compassionate world.

Peace Lab Clinics

Oiwas Clinic (Organisation for the Integration and Welfare of Asylum Seekers)

January 6th 2006 was the date when the Peace Lab launched an appeal to medical doctors to participate in the Peace Lab Clinics Service.

Several doctors came forward to give a weekly free service. Dr Emmanuel Fenech started his volunteer work specializing in children's needs whilst Dr Nigel Camilleri in those for women. Mr Richard Bilocca is acting as coordinator.

It is hard to describe the way we were treated at both Oiwas Centres Hal Far. The immigrants flocked the clinics in a desperate cry for help. The permanent state of health insecurity was evident in the female immigrants dreadfully searched for assurance in the Peace Lab Clinics for problems that conditioned their quality of life for months.

Hal Far Tents Village

Earlier in 2005 the Peace Lab started running another clinic at Hal Far Tent Village.

Dr Nazareno Azzopardi is paying a weekly visit providing medicine and care. Here the Peace Lab does not only offer immigrants help but also a source of comfort and security.

Although one could distil joy from the faces of the immigrants their reaction was characterised by an internalised panic. The permanent state of health insecurity was evident as the immigrants dreadfully searched for assurance in the problems that conditioned their quality of life for months.

This is a humanitarian service that operates on the kindness of volunteers and other supporters. We are continuously striving to make the most of our limited yet inexhaustible resources. We hope that in the near future we would be able to register an increased wellbeing on our patients by carefully monitoring their improvements through our medical records.

Medicins Sans Frontiers

February 2009 the Peace Lab in conjunction with Medicins Sans Frontiers has opened a clinic within it's grounds. The Medicins Sans Frontiers team assist those who are living in the area and alleviate the stress placed on the Government Polyclinic at Floriana. This is not an alternative but a complimentary service supported by the Health Ministries Primary Health Department.

It has been recognised that early intervention within the area of health reduces the reliance on poly-clinic and hospital services whose resources are already fully stretched.

M.S.F. (Medicins sans Frontiers), also employs cultural mediators at both the Peace Lab and the Floriana poly-clinic to translate, explain and communicate procedures to the patients and is a diagnostic tool for the health professionals.

Psychological assistance is also being provided at the centre and there are plans to develop the services further.

Dr Giuseppe Demola is coordinator.

Internet Cafe at Peace Lab Halfar (May 2009)

Communication is something that we take for granted with the European Union. The asylum seekers needs to keep effective communication with their families. This goes a long way and helps the allaying the families fears for the safety of the person seeking asylum and re-assurance for the asylum seeker that their family is safe back in their country of origin.

We are pleased to announce the opening of an internet café within our grounds in Hal Far which is situated close to Lister Barracks and the Halfar Tent Village.

Alleviating the stress of people who pass through the Maltese/ European asylum process helps in all areas. Peace of mind allows the individual to operate within society in a more productive manner even if the individual returns to country of origin

Seek What Unites Us - Infittxu dak li Jghaqqadna

Produced and presented by Manny Scicluna this radio programme is broadcast every Sunday at 7.30 a.m. on Radio Malta (93.7 MHz).

During this broadcast the presenter, gives the latest information about peace education, disarmament, countries which are facing problems such as armed conflicts, hunger, disease and other problems relating to the development of that particular country. Time and again he invites people, mainly priests and members of religious orders, who, since they have chosen to fulfil their mission of service to the people in need, have decided to go and live in these countries. Whenever they come back to Malta for a brief holiday, the presenter invites them to share with the numerous listeners their first hand experiences.

At the moment the presenter is giving information about the Winners of the Nobel Peace Prize, not only about their lives and achievement but also about the circumstances which prompted the Norwegian Awarding Committee to grant them this prestigious honour.