Joseph Vancell

Interactive Projectors

2011-04-19T13:53:00.000+02:00

Taghna f'Taghna

2011-03-07T17:02:00.001+01:00

The President's Speech

2011-03-06T18:42:00.001+01:00

Systems of Knowledge (SOK) Online Courses

2011-02-17T09:54:00.005+01:00

Follow Systems of Knowledge courses and download notes at the comfort of your own home.
Get constant feedback about progress in your studies.
Get help in writing effective and successful essays for the MATSEC exam.
Four SOK online courses - created and maintained by Joseph Vancell - are now available at https://sites.google.com/site/sokportal/.
For further details please contact me at joseph.vancell@gmail.com.

SOK project deadlines for 2nd Year students at Junior College.

2010-10-11T11:26:00.000+02:00

Go to this link http://www.jc.um.edu.mt/sok/noticeboard to check the deadlines for submission of the essay and portfolio.

SOK Action Plan 2010-2011

2010-10-11T11:04:00.002+02:00

Open or download the SOK Action Plan 2010-2011 by clicking on the title. Only my 1st year students at Junior College need this action plan.

To all the England fans out there!

2010-06-20T11:36:00.001+02:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Carasi: The Order of Malta Exposed

2010-05-19T09:37:00.002+02:00

I designed the cover page of this new book. Check it out. It is available at €11.95 from all leading bookshops.

Click on image to enlarge.

Only in Malta!

2010-05-09T23:41:00.004+02:00

Where have all the workers gone?

2010-05-03T17:23:00.000+02:00

Sing to the tune of Peter Seeger's Where all have all the flowers gone?

Where have all the workers gone?
Some time passing
Where have all the workers gone?
Some time ago
Where have all the workers gone?
The Pope thanked them every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

Where have all street cleaners gone?
Some time passing
Where have all street cleaners gone?
Some time ago
Where have all street cleaners gone?
Taken holidays every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

The Quest for Quality: Sharleen Vancell

2010-04-26T17:12:00.004+02:00

Sharleen Vancell (2010) Untitled no. 1
Mixed Media on paper

After failing to secure a generous sponsorship deal from her parents - esteemed patrons of the arts in the local context - to continue her cycle of non-figurative frescoes in the family living room, this budding 2-year old artist has turned her energy and creativity to the more mundane representation of metaphysical issues using a variety of mediums including pencils, crayons and the more versatile pen and wash (plus the occasional chocolate cookie).

The polychrome drawing above, reminiscent of Vassily Kandinsky's and Jackson Pollock's work, was produced in one sitting. It shows Vancell's current attempts at answering the metaphysical question "What is quality?", a question which has troubled philosophers for millennia. Indeed, through the use of polychromic lines of varies lengths, widths, depth and intensity, and the use of a presitgious colouring surface - the back of her father's printed curriculum vitae - she manages to critically evaluate the human being's relationship with the supernatural and his perception of beauty.

Musical Finches

2010-04-15T11:39:00.006+02:00

In Malta hunters and trappers are fighting for what they believe is their natural human right to trap and/or kill birds during Spring. Indeed, they even had the guts to claim that they are "experiencing psychological torture while waiting for the government's decision on the opening of spring season, as recommended by the Ornis committee last month". Luckily, for those who hate lead shot, bird torture, killing and stuffing, the government opted for a short six-day spring hunting spree.

In London, the French contemporary French artist Celeste Boursier-Mougenot has put birds to better use. He's using them as musicians! In his installation at the Barbican Centre in London 40 zebra finches are creating a cacophany of noises (music?) when they perch on the necks of amplified electric guitars.

Michelangelo Sidewalk Chalk Art

2010-04-14T10:36:00.002+02:00

Only in Malta 2!

2010-04-13T20:06:00.004+02:00

Hello, my name is Cleavage

By Kristina Chetcuti

From: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100411/opinion/hello-my-name-is-cleavage

What would you do if your child came back from school one day and told you she had a boy in her class called Cleavage?

Surely, you would think, there's a mistake somewhere? But no, there isn't. Cross my heart: it's a real name given to a real boy in Malta. His mother, bless her, is delirious with pride that her son has a unique name: "I had to register it, as there's no one else with that name," she told a friend of mine.

Here's another real one: a father accompanying his toddler to the clinic told a doctor his daughter's name was Dyslexia but, sorry, he wasn't sure how to spell it.

Another mother gave her daughter a practically unpronounceable nine-letter name. She explained her word-game strategy: "Every month during my pregnancy I chose a letter and then at the end of the nine months, I jumbled them up and came up with this name."

Another parent was equally haughty about the 'avant-garde' names she gave her sons. "This one is Skylander," she said as she pushed them to the front, "And this one is Cleverson. Eh? What do you think?"

What do you think indeed? We've all heard of Jurassic Pace, of Britney Spears Borg, or Celine Dion Darmanin, Mysharona Brincat. Why, I had even heard of Jack Daniels Falzon. But Dyslexia? Cleavage?

If I'm honest, this is the stuff of severe attacks of giggles. I mean, Cleverson? Are we resorting to Red Indian nomenclature now? What ever next? Dances-with-wolves Vella?

But then when I wondered if these were just one-offs and was firmly told they are, in certain areas, quite the norm, it felt like a slap in the face. You would think you know the society you live in. Here I am, week in week out, writing about social issues when really half the population is simply concerned about having babies just so they can give them more original names than their neighbours' children.

I wouldn't like to think that parents inflict such torturous names on their children on purpose. So the problem is, of course, sheer, utter ignorance. And I can say this safe in the knowledge that no one will be hurt reading this article, because parents of these kids cannot know how to read in English. I hope, against hope, that at least they do read in Maltese - but I have my doubts.

Because it's not just the names. It's other things too. Here's another incident, which I know sounds like a 'have you heard the one about?': A lady patient was given suppositories to treat a particular ailment. She went back a couple of days later, complaining that she couldn't swallow them.

The doctor politely explained that she has to insert them in her patata (bottom). She returned some days later baffled because try as she might, she just couldn't get the suppositories to melt in mashed potatoes. My friend, stumped, had no choice but to resort to the vernacular of 'arse' in Maltese. "Oh. Why didn't you say so, immediately?" said the woman.

Again I can vouch this is a real story. And so is the one about the woman who was diagnosed with a cardiac murmur, and told the nurse that they had found a mermaid in her heart. Or the fact that hundreds of women - teenagers and twenty-somethings - do not know how to say period. They say 'imperial'!

And this is very worrisome. If you don't know the proper name of something that you get every month of your life, it means that you just repeat the sounds you hear, parrot-like, and you don't bother to improve when corrected, and you are illiterate.

It is simply unacceptable for the new generations to be unable to read basic English. There is simply no excuse for it. My own grandmother, now in her 80s, never learnt English at school. She just painstakingly took up reading and kept at it, and last week even won the Bookworm of the Year at our local library.

I'm not claiming to be a clever clogs but, if people do not read, how can they actually think? I suddenly have this nagging fear that our society is made up, mostly, of people who do not think. Yet they have a vote. And they get to decide on very important things such as referenda issues. I shudder to think how they can decide on concepts they can't even grasp.

Perhaps it's time we stopped laughing at ignorance and started taking serious action, by for example, insisting on stricter rules at the Department of Public Registry: 'Cleavage' is one name that should have been categorically rejected.

Only in Malta

2010-04-13T19:34:00.005+02:00

BBC News - 'Phallic' art sparks row ahead of Pope's Malta visit
news.bbc.co.uk

The Pope's route will pass by the monument

The mayor of a town in Malta has called for a "phallic" sculpture displayed close to the main airport to be removed ahead of the Pope's visit this weekend.

Mayor John Schembri described the art work as "vulgar" and "embarrassing", saying it should go "as a sign of respect" for Pope Benedict XVI.
Colonna Mediterranea was created by artist Paul Vella Critien and has been on show in the town of Luqa since 2006.
Mr Critien responded by calling his critics "ignorant" and "uneducated".
Pope Benedict's route through Malta will involve passing by the roundabout at the entrance to Luqa, where the monument stands.
"The object... is not the most fitting way in which to greet the Pope, especially by what is considered to be the most Catholic country in the world," Mr Schembri was quoted by the Times of Malta as saying.
He told the newspaper that the council would again appeal to the government to order the removal of the column.
Mr Critien said his creation was not a phallic symbol but a modern representation of a symbol dating back to ancient Egypt.
He said the Pope "would look at it as a work of art. [He] is not the man in the street".
The government has said it has no plans to remove the sculpture

The San Bastjan factory blast ... other lives lost!

2010-02-23T10:03:00.006+01:00

Yet another fireworks factory blast and more lives lost! The youngest a 21-year old enthusiast. When will this carnage be stopped? Should amatuers and dilettantes be allowed to work in these 'factories'? Why are these factories blasting off so oftenly? Surely the so-called fireworks factories in Malta, or the personnel working within, are not up to scratch in terms of health and safety measures.

Image from

Despite the beauty of fireworks displays the risks of production of same fireworks remains very high as the frequency of explosions and death manifest. I am in no position to judge the talents and skills of the fireworks enthusiasts who work in these 'kmamar tan-nar', yet, since they are working in such high-risk conditions (for themselves and third parties), shouldn't the authorities ensure they have basic training and/or technical qualifications in handling explosive material? I'm sure that, for example, army personnel composing the bomb ordinance unit (or whatever it's called) have been professionally trained, and are constantly updating and upgrading their knowledge and skills to handle dangerous substances and artefacts.

Above all ... the 'kamra tan-nar' is ominously close to the tal-Handaq Junior Lyceum.

New Online Courses

2009-10-06T19:35:00.006+02:00

Some students informed me that they could not access the online course Democratic Values & Citizenship
and that the following message kept popping up:

\"This course is not enrollable at the
moment.\"

The problem has been solved and those who wish to join the course please press the image below
or go to this URL https://vle.um.edu.mt/jc/course/view.php?id=13 .

My Son's Blog

2009-09-19T17:30:00.005+02:00

Check out my son's new blog at http://chevymaniac.blogspot.com/ ... particularly if you're a car fanatic!

Michael Jackson - The Earth Song

2009-09-13T19:26:00.000+02:00

Sculptor Adam Reeder at work

2009-09-02T22:18:00.003+02:00

To learn more about Adam Reeder, please visit his site at www.adamreeder.com

Systems of Knowledge - Study Guide

2009-04-26T14:51:00.004+02:00

Module 1: Democratic values and Responsible Citizenship

Click on image to enlarge.

Fascinating Street Performance

2009-04-26T10:18:00.000+02:00

10 Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci

2009-04-20T10:33:00.010+02:00

It will surely be one of my greatest regrets. My 12-year old son was on holiday with me in the UK and we planned to visit an exhibition of ten drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci on his last day with me in Manchester. It was Friday 10^th April - Good Friday. When we arrived at the Manchester Art Gallery we learnt that the Gallery was closed. My son was very disappointed.

I visited the exhibition some days later. I felt very disappointed for my son who was unlucky to miss seeing the Royal Collection's finest drawings by the Renaissance universal genius. The Royal Collection contains the world's most important group of drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, and these ten drawings are among the greatest treasures of the collection.

This exhibition celebrates the 60th birthday of HRH The Prince of Wales and contains some exquisite studies. Many of these delicate drawings have never been on permanent display due to their fragile nature and, indeed, a dim light illuminates these small drawings in a hall of the Art Gallery.

I was particularly fascinated by a study of drapery (c.1515-17). This is a study for the drapery over the seated Madonna's right thigh in Leonardo's own painting of the Madonna and Child with St Anne and a lamb, now in the the Louvre. The technique is very elaborate. An outline in charcoal was worked up in closely hatched black chalk, which was gone over with a damp brush to make the modelling (or sfumato) even smoother. Touches of brown wash provide a little colour and give greater depth to the shadows. Finally the light on the satiny surface was rendered with a veil of white heightening, delicately applied with a fine brush.

Robert Clark, in The Guardian, Saturday 14 February 2009, referring to this exhibition and the work of Paul Morrison exhibited in the same gallery, wrote

Ten of the greatest ever drawings: incisive, sensitive, a shorthand form of perceptual enquiry, these works by Leonardo Da Vinci show that creative intuitions and living presences can be perfectly embodied with basic means. Red and black chalk, pen and ink, watercolour washes and painstaking finesse metalpoint are wielded with frightening self-assurance. In company like this, Paul Morrison deserves credit for daring to infiltrate the adjacent galleries with his wall-based reflections on drawing's changing historical vocabulary.

If you’re in Manchester do not miss this exhibition. The exhibition is open until 4^th May 2009.

Some useful links:

Manchester Art Gallery

Manchester Art Gallery: Google Map

Ten Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci from the Royal Collection

Paul Morrison at the Manchester Art Gallery

Paul Morrison

Exhibition preview: Leonardo Da Vinci/Paul Morrison, Manchester

The Virgin and Cild with St Anne (Louvre)

The Royal Collection

The Royal Collection: all the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci

Supermarket Airport

2009-04-20T09:18:00.004+02:00

Have your recently been to Malta's International Airport? If not there's a surprise waiting for you! Now, to use a trolley, you must use a Euro. I learnt about this novelty recently when I was travelling from Manchester to Malta. The Airmalta Airbus was full of British 'mature' tourists who were not carrying any small change, let alone a Euro coin. Indeed, many had to carry their heavy bags out of the arrivals without the use of a trolley. Not a good start to their holiday! Ok, you get your Euro back when you carry and relock the trolley to one of the many trolley-piles at the airport, however, this reminded me of the notorious RyanAir cost-cutting novelty - that of paying to use the onboard toilets.

Tourism is a pillar of our small and vulnerable service-oriented economy. In the service industry little client-oriented things, including their treatment at the airport, make a big difference. Let's not treat the tourist and the Maltese traveller with a supermarket mentality.

The Italian who went to Malta

2009-04-03T22:17:00.000+02:00

Thank you Priscilla for reminding me of this story!

SOK Science & Technology Questions (2nd Year)

2009-03-29T19:15:00.000+02:00

Answer ONE question. You can write your essay in either ENGLISH or MALTESE.

1. The scientist can never claim that science gives a complete picture of the universe. Do you agree with this statement? Support your answer with examples from the history of science and from what is happening in science today.

2. The modern scientific method combines manual dexterity and intellectual ability. Experiments help scientists confirm their scientific hypothesis. Discuss.

3. Technology is usually based on scientific principles and its use has brought untold benefits to mankind. Discuss, with reference to some technological devices you make use in your daily life and/or which you used in your technological project.

4. The profound study of nature is the most fertile source of scientific and technological discoveries. Discuss the above statement by making direct reference to human technological development such as housing, transportation, navigation, structures, clothing, camouflage etc.

5. Often scientific projects (inventions and discoveries) become embroiled in controversy. This usually takes the form of opposing factions, with one side promoting the benefits to humans and the other raising ethical objections. Discuss with reference to fairly recent examples.

Assessment of essays based on these questions is only available for my Junior College students.

12 and ½ Writing Rules

2009-03-21T22:14:00.000+01:00

12 and ½ Writing Rules from AllPosters.com.

The Best Pictures of the Year

2009-03-18T15:48:00.001+01:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

The Best Pictures of the Year

View more presentations from Mark Lamerton.

Is this art?

2009-03-05T19:45:00.000+01:00

Art exhibitions without exhibits are nothing new. Nothing has been a recognised art form for half a century. But the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris can claim a cultural first this week: for the first time since John Cage penned his noiseless 4'33 and Yves Klein invited thousands to view an empty, white-washed room the Centre Georges Pompidou is devoting an entire retrospective exhibition of 51 years of exhibitions without exhibits by nine different artists. How can a museum retrospectively exhibit nothing? With great care.

The exhibition, Voids, a Retrospective, fills, or fails to fill, five rooms in the French national museum of modern art on the fourth floor of the Pompidou building. All the rooms are entirely empty. The walls are white. The floors are bare. The lighting has been arranged just as carefully as for any other temporary exhibition. The gardiens (guards) watch suspiciously to make sure that the visitors do not touch anything, or in this case that they do not touch nothing.

The exhibition is hailed by one critic as the most radical show ever seen inside a museum, Voids, a retrospective is a celebration of art which, as the artist Robert Barry put it, wants us to be "free for a moment to think about what we are going to do".

Who is your favourite modern artist?

2009-03-04T21:45:00.000+01:00

The TimesOnline, in association with the Saatchi Gallery, has put together a list of 200 twentieth century artists and is asking visitors to vote for their favourite. The list include famous painters, sculptors, photographers, video and installation artists.

You can vote for your favorite artist/s on the TimesOnline website here.

I voted Marcel Duchamp. You? Will it be Pablo Picasso, Paul Cezanne, Gustav Klimt, Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol or ... who wins the honour of the greatest modern artist?

Youthful Da Vinci self-portrait found

2009-03-01T18:30:00.000+01:00

Piero Angela, the Italian television journalist renowned for his long-running science and technology programme Quark, has claimed that he has recently made a very important discovery in one of Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks. While examining the Codex on the Flight of Birds Piero Angela noticed that an image was hiding behind layers of thick handwriting.

In a statement on RAI’s website Angela said that, when he was studying a high quality facsimile of the Codex, he detected the faint form of a nose underneath Leonardo’s writing on the Codex’s tenth page. He enlisted the help of art historians, police forensic experts and RAI's graphic department to turn the black text covering the sketch white, then the same tone as the paper.

Over months of painstaking micro-pixel work, graphic designer Giovanni Stillitano gradually "removed" the text and revealed the drawing underneath. What emerged was the face of a young to middle-aged man with long hair, a short light beard and a penetrating gaze.

Piero Angela said that he compared the image to all known self-portraits and the many sketches of young men by Leonardo, but no match was found. Then, struck by similarities to a famed self-portrait of Leonardo in advanced age from around 1512, a work in red chalk on paper and housed in Turin's Biblioteca Reale, Angela wondered whether it might not be a new, younger Leonardo self-portrait.

Criminal investigation techniques were used to digitally correlated the sketch with the known portrait and "age" it with facial reconfiguration technology, sinking the cheeks, hollowing the eyes and furrowing the brow.

The police experts found the two images compatible "to such an extent that we may regard the hypothesis that the images portray the same person as reasonable." The results were validated by a plastic surgeon, Giuseppe Leopizzi, and then double-checked via a digital face-lift to rejuvenate the older self-portrait.

Wrinkles removed, eyes brightened, the younger version of the established older self-portrait was superimposed on the newly discovered sketch and found to be almost identical.

Professor Carlo Pedretti at California University, a world authority on Leonardo Da Vinci, described the sketch as "one of the most important acquisitions in the study of Leonardo, in the study of his image, and in the study of his thought too" and he was “perfectly convinced” that the image portrayed the famous Renaissance artist.

More on Leonardo da Vinci can be found in the following sites:

BBC: Leonardo's Studio

Universal Leonardo

Leonardo at the Museum

Willie Apap (1918 - 1970)

2009-02-11T18:59:00.000+01:00

Apap was a leading Maltese artist active during and around the mid-20th century. Apap was born in 1918 and studied painting in Rome at the Regia Accademia di Belle Arti, where his master was the Neapolitan artist Carlo Siviero. At the outbreak of World War II, he surrendered his British passport in return for a residence and work permit in Italy. Arrested after the capitulation of Italy in 1945, he was brought to Malta and tried for high treason, together with around twenty-five other Maltese, but was acquitted. His release was followed by a period of intense activity during which he established himself as Malta's leading portrait artist. In 1955 he transferred himself permanently to Rome, where in June 1964 he organized a one-man exhibition at the Galleria L'Agostiniana in Piazza del Popolo, which won him very favourable comments. In 1961 he was invited to Windsor Castle to paint a portrait of Princess Anne (exh. 1962; London, Grabowski Gal.). In 1967 he had another successful show, at the Galleria Galeazzo in Alba. His work had by this time become profoundly religious in content, and the bright colours of his earlier paintings gave way to gloomy mauves and grey tones.

Vincent Van Gogh

2009-02-08T20:58:00.000+01:00

Van Gogh is now one of the most well-known post-Impressionist painters, although he was not widely appreciated in his lifetime.

Vincent Van Gogh was born on 30 March 1853 in Zundert in the southern Netherlands, the son of a pastor. In 1869 he took his first job, working in the Hague branch of an international art dealing firm. He began to write to his younger brother Theo, a correspondence which continued for the rest of Van Gogh's life.

Van Gogh's job took him to London and Paris, but he was not interested in the work and was dismissed in 1876. He briefly became a teacher in England, and then, deeply interested in Christianity, a preacher in a mining community in southern Belgium.

In 1880, at the age of 27, he decided to become an artist. He moved around, teaching himself to draw and paint and receiving financial support from Theo. In 1886 Van Gogh joined Theo in Paris, and met many artists including Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, Pissarro and Gauguin, with whom he became friends. His style changed significantly under the influence of Impressionism, becoming lighter and brighter. He painted a large number of self-portraits in this period.

In 1888, Van Gogh moved to Provence in southern France, where he painted his famous series 'Sunflowers'. He invited Gauguin to join him but they soon began to quarrel and one night, Van Gogh threatened Gauguin with a razor. Deeply remorseful he then cut off part of his own ear.

This was the first serious sign of the mental health problems that were to afflict Van Gogh for the rest of his life. He spent time in psychiatric hospitals and swung between periods of inertia, depression and incredibly concentrated artistic activity, his work reflecting the intense colours and strong light of the countryside around him.

On 27 July 1890, again suffering from depression, Van Gogh shot himself. He died two days later.

From: BBC Historic Figures : Vincent Van Gogh

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

2009-02-08T20:42:00.000+01:00

It is widely acknowledged that Picasso is the most important artist of the 20th century. He experimented with a wide range of styles and themes in his long career, most notably inspiring 'Cubism'.

He was born in Malaga on 25 October 1881, the son of an art teacher. He later adopted his mother's maiden name of Picasso. He grew up in Barcelona, showing artistic talent at an early age. In the early 1900s, he moved between France and Spain before finally settling in Paris in 1904. There he experimented with a number of styles and produced his own original ones, reflected in his 'Blue' and 'Rose' periods.

In 1907 Picasso painted 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon', a revolutionary work that introduced a major new style - 'Cubism'. Picasso worked closely with the French artist Georges Braque in the development of this style. Picasso's next major innovation, in 1912, was 'Collage', attaching pieces of cloth, newspaper or advertising to his paintings.

Picasso now moved from style to style, experimenting with painting and sculpture and becoming involved with the Surrealist movement. In 1937 he produced 'Guernica', a painting inspired by the destruction of the town in northern Spain by German bombers during the Spanish Civil War. Picasso supported the Republican government fighting General Francisco Franco, and never returned to Spain after Franco's victory.

Unlike many artists, Picasso remained in Paris during the German occupation. From 1946 to his death he lived mainly in the south of France. He continued to produce a huge variety of work including paintings, sculptures, etchings and ceramics.

Picasso was involved with a number of women during his life who were often artistic muses as well as lovers. He had four children. On 8 April 1973, he died of a heart attack at his home near Cannes.

From http: //www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/picasso_pablo.shtml

The Imagery

2008-11-08T12:48:00.000+01:00

Check out this great new band from Gozo. You'll find their songs at this link: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=111034816

The group's song Margie Bloom is featured on Toni Sant's 137th Muzika Mod Iehor Podcast. Read more at http://www.tonisant.com/blog/2008/10/dont-let-me-down.shtml

Residential Homes for the Elderly

2008-11-08T10:05:00.000+01:00

The information below comes from the Ministry of Social Policy website.

This service provides residential care consisting of a physically and emotionally safe and secure environment to elderly persons and persons with disability, who can no longer cope with living in their own homes. The bedrooms in these residential homes are equipped with an ensuite bathroom and kitchenette. They also have a Nurse Call system in case of emergencies. Other facilities include air-conditioning, central heating, and telephones in each room for incoming and internal calls, card phone facilities, communal dining rooms, communal T.V./living rooms and chapel.

Contact Information

Department in charge of service - Department for the Elderly and Community Care

Email: Generic email address

Postal address: Elderly and Community Care Dept. Ċentru Servizz Anzjan, 3, Old Mint Street, Valletta.

Telephone numbers: 25575000/25575105

Fax: 25575200

Opening hours: Winter - Monday to Friday from 08:00 - 15:30
Summer Monday to Friday from 08:00 - 13:00

LIST OF GOVERNMENT RESIDENTIAL HOMES (pdf file)

Government Hospital Services in Malta

2008-11-08T09:32:00.000+01:00

This information comes from the website of the Ministry of Health, The Elderly and Community Care.

Mater Dei Hospital
Sir Paul Boffa Hospital Radiotherapy and Oncology Department Dermatology Department Genitourinary (GU) Clinic
Mount Carmel Hospital
Zammit Clapp Hospital
Gozo General Hospital
St Vincent de Paule Residence

SIR PAUL BOFFA HOSPITAL Floriana
Tel: 21 224491, 21 224581, 21 245019, 21 245091

This is a cancer, skin and convalescence hospital. It has 85 beds.
A/Medical Administrator: Dr Maria Sciberras Lay Administrator: Mr Manuel Borg Manager Nursing Services:
Visiting hours:
From 10.00 am to 12.00 pm daily From 3.30 pm to 8.00 pm daily
Radiotherapy and Oncology Department
Dermatology Department
Genitourinary (GU) Clinic
ZAMMIT CLAPP HOSPITALSt. Julian's
Tel: 21 344950. Fax: 21 344914

This is a specialised geriatric hospital. It has 60 beds.
General Manager: Mr Joseph Micallef
Visiting hours:
From 1.00 pm to 8.00 pm daily
GOZO GENERAL HOSPITAL(including Ta' L-Ibrag hospital)Gozo
Tel: 21 561600; 21 562700 (Ta' l-Ibrag)

This is a general hospital catering for the island of Gozo, with 159 beds. Ta' L-Ibrag is a newer part of the hospital with 100 psychiatric and geriatric beds.
Medical Superintendent: Dr Anthony Livori Lay Administrator: Mr Renaldo Cini
Visiting hours:
From 11.30 am to 12.00 pm daily From 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm daily From 7.00 pm to 7.30 pm daily From 9.00 am to 10.00 am (Sundays and Public Holidays; children allowed)
CCU: From 10.30 am to 11.00 am and from 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm daily
ST VINCENT DE PAULE RESIDENCELuqa
Tel: 21 224461/2/3, 21 232108/9, 21 226322/3/4
A residence for the elderly with over 1000 beds.
Medical Director: Dr Ronald Fiorentino. Manager Nursing Services: Mr Alfred Briffa . Tel: 21230535Lay Administrator: Mr Joe Rapinett . Tel: 21238270
Visiting hours:
From 10.00 am to 11.00 am daily From 3.00 pm to 5.30 pm daily From 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm daily

Non-Governmental Organisations

2008-11-05T21:00:00.000+01:00

CARING ORGANISATIONS DIRECTORY - MALTA A list of Caring Organisations, there aims and services offered. http://www.ngo-caring.global.net.mt

Centre for Missionary Animation / Centru Animazzjoni Missjunarja http://www.cam.com.mt/

Eden Foundation The Eden Foundation is a non-profit organisation established in 1992, which works in partnership with people with developmental disabilities to help them achieve full inclusion to the best of their abilities by gaining access to mainstream education, employment and leisure activities, leading to an independent life. http://www.theedenfoundation.com

Equal Partners Foundation http://www.equalpartnersmalta.org/

Foundation for Human Resources Development The Foundation for Human Resources Development is a Maltese NGO and non-profit makign organisation that commits itself to promote good Human Resource Management and Development practices and to raise the profile of the HR Profession in Malta. http://www.fhrd.org

Gift of Life Gift of life is a group of lay voluntary professionals who share a common concern about the issue of abortion and more recently for the protection of the embryo. Our primary aim is to peacefully campaign against any possibility of abortion being legalised in Malta. http://www.lifemalta.org

istrina Lets help others in need http://www.istrina.com

Life Cycle Organisation The Life Cycle Organisation was founded in 1999 with the aim of creating awareness and generating support for patients suffering from end stage renal failure (chronic kidney disease). http://www.lifecyclechallenge.com/

Malta Dementia Society The Malta Dementia Society is a non-governmental organisation for persons with dementia, their carers, families and friends. The society also brings together healthcare professionals and interested persons to increase the knowledge of dementia and its care. http://www.maltadementiasociety.org.mt

Malta Medical Students Association http://www.mmsa.org.mt

Malta Red Cross Society Official Site http://www.redcross.org.mt/

MAP - Malta Association of Physiotherapists Official Website of the Malta Association of Physiotherapists. http://www.physiomalta.com

MHCS Ltd. - HACCP Implementation HYGIENE, HYGIENE AUDITS, HACCP IMPLEMENTATION: Our Health & Hygiene Consultants can assist you in maintaining, and further improve your Hygiene standards as well as support you in food safety, health and safety training and consultancy and in the implementation of HACCP, Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment. http://www.mhcsmalta.com/haccp.htm

MMDNA - Malta Memorial District Nursing Association Malta Memorial District Nursing Association http://www.mmdna.com

National Blood Transfusion Service http://www.health.gov.mt/nbts/

National Commission Persons with Disability Official National Commission Persons with Disability (Malta) web site. Providing information regarding social policy and the commission's services. http://www.knpd.org/

National Immunisation Service This site is aimed at providing information about Immunisation services offered in Malta by the National Immunisation Service department within the Government Health Division - http://www.health.gov.mt/immunisation/Index.html

Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a metabolic disease affecting many women after their menopause. Identifying individuals at risk is important for prevention. http://geneticslab.topcities.com

PATH [EYWD] - Malta PATH [European Youth Without Drugs] is a European network for young people. Malta is the HQ of this network. http://pathmalta.cjb.net

Psoriasis Association Malta Committed to improve the quality of life of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis suffereres through education and increased awareness. http://www.pam.org.mt

Razzett tal-Hbiberija, a Park of Friendship Leisure complex built with people of all abilities in mind. Persons with disability can use the facilities free of charge. Olympic size indoor pool, Gym, LWS Animal Park, Multi function Hall…come in. http://www.razzett.org/

Richmond Foundation Malta Richmond Foundation is a provider of community rehabilitation and support services for persons with mental health difficulties. Villa Chelsea is a community-based project run by the Foundation in Malta and aims to rehabilitate those persons who are patients in a psychiatric hospital (whose problems are mainly social in nature), to the level by which they can successfully reintegrate in the community. Villa Chelsea aims to enable users to take responsibility for themselves by gaining personal, social, employment, leisure and life skills. Furthermore, support is also provided when the users are in their own homes. http://richmond.org.mt

Society of Medical Radiographers (Malta) Official websiteof SRM. Includes info for radiographers, other health providers and info for patients regarding imaging examinations such as MRI. Abstracts of related studies. http://www.e-radiography.org

St. John Rescue Corps - Malta The St. John Rescue Corps - Malta, provides a voluntary organization of fully trained personnel able to carry out rescue and first aid operations efficiently when called upon by the constituted authorities in case of major national calamities such as floods, earthquakes, air crashes and so forth. http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Cliffs/

The Maltese Association of Dermatology and Venereology The association for Maltese dermatologists and venereologists, providing information about events, the Malta Eczema Society and The Malta Wound Care Foundation, and information about the sun and the skin http://www.madv.org.mt

The Maltese Association of the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of St.John of Jerusalem, Rho The Maltese Association of the Order of Malta - SMOM,Knights of Malta http://www.orderofmalta-malta.org

The Official Caritas Malta Web Site Caritas Malta, the Church Secretariat for Social and Charitable Action co-ordinates and develops work among the sick, the elderly, persons with special needs, drug users and other people in difficulty. http://www.caritasmalta.org/

Voluntary Organisations in Malta

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Amnesty International Malta

AI is a worldwide voluntary human rights movement that works impartially for the release of prisoners of conscience, fair trials for political prisoners and and end to torture, "disappearances", political killings and executions. AI campaigns to stop anyone being returned to a country where they would be in danger of these abuses. The organization is financed by its million plus members and supporters around the world and accepts no money from governments.

SOS Malta

SOS (Solidarity & Overseas Services) Malta SOS Malta, a Maltese-registered NGO set up in 1991, aims at aiding people experiencing times of crisis and empowering them by providing support services and opportunities to implement development and change in their country to ensure a better quality of life. It encourages advocacy on behalf of social causes, as well as promotes models of good care and practice. In all its operations in Malta and overseas SOS Malta also promotes volunteerism for effective sustainable development. The organisation is a source of knowledge and advice about the role and contribution of volunteerism and the benefits of civic engagement. SOS Malta has two main departments through which it seeks to reach the abovementioned aims and objectives. These are the Development department and Malta Resource Centre for Civil Society NGOs Through its development department, SOS Malta carries out emergency aid, promotion of the Millennium Development Goals and development work overseas. It has operated various relief missions and development projects in overseas countries. They are present in Albania, Kosovo and Sri Lanka.

St. John Ambulance - Malta

St John Ambulance is a voluntary organisation, that forms part of the ‘Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem’, which was established by Queen Victoria in 1888 in England. The St. John Council, chaired by His Honour Chief Justice Professor JJ Cremona Emeritus, is the governing body of the organisation. Under the Council there are three branches. These are The Training Association, First Aid & Nursing and The Rescue Corps.

Health, the Elderly and Community Care

2008-11-05T20:05:00.000+01:00

This list is intended for those students who wish to work in non-governmental organisations for their Systems of Knowledge Project.

ADD/ADHD Family Support Group (Malta)
c/o Tal-Andar
Swieqi Rd,
Swieqi
Tel: 21233749 (answering machine)
Email: nastas@waldonet.net.mt
Website: www.amazonmalta.com/adhd.html
Chairperson: Mrs.Tessa M. Anastasi
Hon. Secretary: Mr. Olav Attard
Hon. Treasurer: Mrs. Ruth Mangion

Association for Solidarity with Persons with Special Needs
c/o 111 Main Street
Siggiewi
Tel: 21468440
Contact person: Ms Gloria Callus

Association of Breastfeeding Counsellors
Catholic Institute
Floriana VLT16
Tel: 21238942
Contact person: Mrs Christine Borg
Email: c-cborg@mail.global.net.mt
Website: http://www.breastfeedingmalta.org/
Mission: To protect the right of the child to an optimal start in life and to encourage the mother's right to achieve it.

Association of Speech-Language Pathologists
Federation of Professional Associations,
The Professional Centre, Sliema Road,
Gzira GZR 1633
Malta
Contact person: Gertrude A. Buttigieg - President 99873213
Email: info@aslpmalta.org
Website: http://www.aslpmalta.org/
Mission: The mission of the Association of Speech-Language Pathologists Malta (ASLP) is to promote the profession and ensure highest quality services through safe guarding the code of ethics, updating professional standards and creating opportunities for continuous professional development. It is a vehicle through which professional views can be disseminated to other organisations and public institutions. It creates opportunities to raise public awareness regarding Speech-Language Pathology.

Caritas Malta Epilepsy Association
5, Triq l-Iljun,
Floriana VLT 16
Contact person: Josette Vassallo
Tel: 21233933, 21245358, Fax: 21246374
Email: caritasmalta@mail.keyworld.net
Dr. Janet Mifsud
Tel: 2132902845
Email: janmif@um.edu.mt
Website: www.synapse.net.mt/welfare/epilepsy
http://www.caritasmalta.org/

Caritas Malta Thursday Club
(mental health aftercare)
5, Triq l-Iljun,
Floriana VLT 16
Tel: +356 25906600 Ext 644 Mobile: 79424518
Contact person: Sr. Rita Zammit Pace, Mr. Damian Spiteri, Ms. Pamela Kerr
Tel: 25906600 Fax: 21246374
Email: caritasmalta@mail.link.net
cssu@caritasmalta.org
Website: www.caritasmalta.org
The aim of this group is to offer help for the persons trying to reintegrate into society. The activities consist mainly of teaching social skills and social activities.
Meeting: every Thursday
Time: 5.30pm

Daniel Delicata Memorial Association
c/o: "Gloriana"
Triq il-Migbed
Swieqi STJ 04
Malta
Tel: 21579145, 79408346, 79496960
Email: daniels@maltanet.net
Motto: "Improving the quality of life of sick children in hospitals"

Dar il-Providenza
(Providence House)
Triq Lapsi
Siġġiewi QRM 16
Msgr. L. Gatt
Administrator: John Micallef
Tel: 21462844, 21464915 Fax: 21467925
Email: info@dar-tal-providenza.org
Web site: http://www.dar-tal-providenza.org/

Dar il-Wens
(A Home for Shelter)
29, Triq il-Qalb ta' Ġesu,
Rahal Ġdid PLA 07
R.Galea
Tel./Fax: 21696825, Mobile: 99440997
Email: ilwens@waldonet.net.mt

Disabled by Accident Group
c/o P.O. Box 16
Msida
Fax: 21238226
Email: patc@onvol.net
Contact person: Mr Philip Agius
Mission: To support persons after an accident

Down Syndrome Association Malta
45, South Street,
Valletta VLT11
Chairperson: Ms. Marthese Mugliette
Secretary: Mr Antoine Gauci
Tel: +356 21235158
Email: info@dsa.org.mt
Website: http://www.dsa.org.mt/
Aims of the Association:
a. To encourage people with Down syndrome to fulfill their potential for successful and happy lives, in a society that knows their abilities and is supportive of their needs.
b. To contact parents of newly born babies with Down Syndrome as early as possible and to provide counselling and support particularly in the early stages of a baby's life.
c. To represent the interests and needs of people with Down syndrome in all aspects of life and individuals needs, as members of the family and the community.
d. To increase public awareness and understanding of the nature of Down Syndrome people so they may lead a rewarding and full life.
e. To press for better services and greater choice in the facilities offered to children and adults with Down Syndrome, such as education, therapy, training and independent living.
f. To support professionals in their work and research of Down Syndrome.

Dyslexia Association (Malta)
c/o 'Stoke'
San Pawl tat-Tarġa
Naxxar NXR 06
Contact Person: Ms Marchesa Cassar Desain
Tel: 21413305 Fax: 21413674

Equal Partners Foundation
52, Market Street
Floriana VLT 14
Contact Person: Mr Colin Galea (President)
Tel: 21250400
Email: ngalea@orbit.net.mt

Fondazzjoni Għas-Servizzi Ta' Respite Care - Dar il-Kaptan
Rotary Drive
Triq Dar il-Kaptan
Mtarfa RBT 15
Contact Person: Ms. Natasha Cefai
Tel: 21450103/4 Fax: 21450413
Email: rcs@waldonet.net.mt
Website: http://www.darilkaptan.org/

Foundation for the Development of Maltese Sign Language
(Fondazzjoni Żvilupp Lingwa tas-Sinjali Maltija)
c/o L-Istitut tal-Lingwistika,
L-Universita ta' Malta
Msida MSD 06
President: Mr Karl Borg
Contact Person: Dr Marie Alexander
Text telephone: 2340 2428
Tel: 23402428/23402151
Email: marie.alexander@um.edu.mt
Mission: To support the development of Maltese Sign Language mainly through teaching and research.

Friends of the Sick & Elderly in Gozo
NGO Centre,
Triq il-Madonna tar-Rummiena,
Xewkija XWK 9082, Gozo.
President: Dr John B. Pace
Tel: 21553336 / 79558614
Email: admin@fsegozo.com
Website: http://www.fsegozo.com/
Mission:The main functions of the society are to assist the sick and the elderly in every way and to help improve and increase hospital and home facilities available for the safety, welfare, comfort and convenience of the sick and the elderly in Gozo.

Gozo Association for the Deaf
Santa Domenic Street
Victoria Gozo
Contact Person: Ms Carmen Grech
Tel: 21556382
Fax: 21550020
Email: gad@gozodirect.com
Website: www.gozodirect.com/ngo/gad
Centre is open on Friday from 5.00pm-7.00pm

Għaqda Nazzjonali Ġenituri ta' Persuni b'Diżabilita'
(National Parents' Society for Persons with Disability)
215, "Marlboro"
Misraħ il-Barrieri
St.Venera
Tel: 21246163
Contact Person: Marchita, tel: 21246163
Pamela, tel: 21523262
Email: vancamil@hotmail.com

Għaqda Ħbieb ta' l-Isptar Monte Karmeli
(Friends of Mt. Carmel Hospital Society)
c/o Sptar Monte Karmeli,
Triq l-Imdina
Attard BZN 09
Contact Person: Holger Saliba
Tel: 2141 5183
Email: holger.saliba@gov.mt

Gift of Life Foundation
20, Trejqa l-Barrieri,
Mosta MST07
Tel: 21320492, 79702481
Contact person: Mr Paul Vincenti
Email: info@lifemalta.org
Website: http://www.lifemalta.org/
Mission: Gift of Life is a group of lay voluntary professionals who share a common concern about the issue of abortion and more recently for the protection of the embryo. Our primary aim is to peacefully campaign against any possibility of abortion being legalised in Malta. We also offer information and support to girls and women who may be in a crisis pregnancy situation and beyond.

Ir-Razzett tal-Ħbiberija
(Park of Friendship)
Żinżell Street
Marsascala ZBR 11
Tel: 21636526
Fax: 21636525
Contact person: Mr Nathan Farrugia
Email: disabledprog@razzett.org
Website: http://www.razzett.org/

Kummisjoni Ħidma Għall-Morda u Persuni B'Diżabilta'
Istitut Kattoliku
Floriana VLT 16
Tel: 21237031, 21222239
Fax: 21230829
Contact person: Mr Paul Mifsud
Mission statement: To offer spiritual and material help to the sick, persons with disabilities and their families.

Kunsill Malti tal-Persuni b'Diżabilta'
(Maltese Council of Disabled Persons)
c/o Ċentru Ħidma Soċjali
Triq il-Kbira San Gużepp
Sta. Venera HMR 18
Malta
Tel: 21330944 (answering service)
Email: fbs9hl@yahoo.co.uk
Contact person: Mr Charles Borg ( International Secretary)

Malta Association of Environmental Health Officers (MAEHO)
Gzira Housing Estate
Gzira
Affiliated with the International Federation of Environmental Health (www.ifeh.org)
President: Paul J. Micallef
Hon. Secretary:Hadrian Bonello
Tel: 99221381
Email: secretary@maeho.net
Website: http://www.maeho.net/
Mission statement: To render the highest level of public service in the field of food safety and environmental health, to establish an identity and voice for the health inspectors of Malta and Gozo and to enhance their professional status.

Malta Association of Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Department
St. Luke's Hospital G' Mangia.
Tel: (00356) 21237499, (00356) 21241251 Ext. 1512 /(00356) 25951512, 25951624
President: Ms Stephanie Vella
Vice-President: Mr. Demis Cachia
Secretary:Ms. Claire Busuttil
Assistant Secretary:Ms. Charmaine Mifsud
Treasurer:Ms. Roberta Sultana
Members:Ms. Elena Abela, Ms. Theresianne Mizzi, Ms. Maria Daniela Farrugia
Website: http://www.maotwebsite.org/

Malta Association of Physiotherapists (MAP)
Tel: (+356) 25951797
WebSite: http://www.physiomalta.com/
Email: miriam.toledo@gov.mt
Contact person: Ms Miriam Toledo

Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability
(Fundazzjoni Maltija ta' Organizzazzjonijiet għall- Persuni b' Diżabilta')
c/o 11, Mannarino Road
Birkirkara BKR 08
Malta
Tel: (+356) 21444754
Fax: (+356) 21499104
Email: fmopd@global.net.mt
Contact person: Ms Irene Schembri- Hon. Secretary

Malta Society of the Blind
81 Brighella Street,
Sta. Venera HMR 18
Malta
Tel: (+356) 21251965
Fax: (+356) 21235257
Email: socblindmalta@global.net.mt
Contact person: Ms Irene Schembri- Hon. Secretary

Malta Wheelchair DanceSport Association
'My Promise'
23 St. George's Street
Paola PLA07
Pippa Roberts, President Tel: (+356) 21370628 Mob: 99864110
Steven Fenech, Secretary Tel: (+356) 21524718 Mob: 79728374
Email: maltawda@yahoo.co.uk

Monday Club For the Mentally Handicapped
'Flamingo' 21
Triq Guze Flores
Mellieha
Tel: 21520482
Contact person: Pippa Vella
Aim of organisation: Monday get together with activities

Moviment Favur id-Drittijiet ta' Persuni B'Diżabilta'
P.O. Box 26
B'Kara BKR 01
Tel: (+356) 21650498, (+356) 21448570
Contact person: Mrs. Marthese Mugliette
Email: mmugliette@onvol.net
Mission statement:
a. to act as a pressure group
b. to do advocacy work with any person with disability or with their families

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Malta
P.O. Box 63
B'Kara 1000
Tel: (+356)21416206, (+356)21496352
President: Ms Louise Anne Gusman
Email: maltams@gmail.com
Website: http://www.msmalta.org.mt/
Society Aims & Objectives: To be a focal point for people with Multiple Sclerosis and their families; To provide updated medical information about the condition; To provide persons with Multiple Sclerosis with an environment where they can meet and share experiences; To provide medical and other services to people with Multiple Sclerosis.

Order of Charity, Raoul Follereau Foundation
Catholic Institute
Floriana VLT 16
Tel: (+356) 21222543
Contact person: Mr. G. Spiteri Tel: (+356)21222543, L. Azzopardi Tel: (+356) 21220534
Mission statement: To promote public awareness in favour of leproses sufferers of the world. The order also helps these people financially

Physically Handicapped Rehabilitation Fund - (Founded 1946)
Physically Handicapped Rehabilitation Centre
Corradino Hill,
Paola PLA 07
Contact person: Mr Albert Bonnici
Tel: 21693863
Fax: 21692221
Email: phrf@camline.net.mt
Aim: Training of physical disabled people.

Psoriasis Association Malta
Contact person: Ms Lucienne Tabone
Tel: 21437606 / 21416288
Fax: 21437606
Email: info@pam.org.mt
Website: http://www.pam.org.mt/

Richmond Foundation
Address: 433, St. Joseph High Street,
Sta. Venera HMR 18
Tel: 21482336
Contact person: Ms Doris Gauci (Chief Executive Officer)
Email: info@richmond.org.mt
Website: http://www.richmond.org.mt/
The mission of Richmond Foundation is to serve the Maltese community as a leader in the provision of community rehabilitation and support services for persons with mental health difficulties.

Step By Step Foundation
Address: 4B, School Street,
Hamrun
Mobile: 99478248
Fax: 25401046
Email: albert@melita.net

The Malta Hospice Movement
Address: 39, Good Shepherd Avenue
Balzan BZN 07
Tel: 21440085/6
Fax: 21484769
Contact person: Mrs. Antoinette Shah
Email: hospice@onvol.net
Website: http://www.hospicemalta.org/
Mission: The Malta Hospice Movement is a voluntary organization inspired by Christian values, which exists to provide and promote the highest possible standards of Palliative Care for people with cancer or motor neurone disease and to help and support their families.
Aims: - To provide the highest possible standards of palliative Care; To improve patients' quality of life; To support families

The Systems of Knowledge Project

2008-10-23T14:00:00.000+02:00

The Systems of Knowledge Syllabus (2008) states:

"Throughout the course candidates are to present a project.

The project has to illustrate the relationship of Science and Technology with the other three modules, these being ‘Responsible Citizenship’, ‘Aesthetics’, and ‘The Environment’. The emphasis of the project is to ‘experience’ what being a good citizen is, what it means to appreciate and/or create objects of aesthetic value, as well as what it means to be responsible towards the environment. Candidates are expected to perceive the role of science and technology within these areas."

It is highly recommended that a student chooses one focus, for example, 'Responsible Citizenship' and then develop a project through which s/he also experiences 'aesthetic' and 'environmental' values, and particularly, 'scientific and technological' values.

An example
PAINTING OF GRAFFITI TO EMBELISH A SECONDARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND

STEP 1: Go to your assigned lecturer and discuss idea and approach.

STEP 2: Fill in the MATSEC booklet with all the details of the proposed project. It is strongly suggested that a rough copy of the pro posal will be first checked and approved by the tutor before it is written on the booklet.

STEP 3: Start a journal and/or diary and write down each step you take. It is important to write down your reflections as well as difficulties encountered.

STEP 4: Establish a contact within the establishment (in this example the secondary school) who will eventually give you his/her permission to work within the establishment.

STEP 5: Through your contact choose a person who can follow and report on your progress: the mentor (e.g. the headmaster or an art teacher at the same school). Please note that the lecturer might find difficulties in visiting the school you are working in.

STEP 6: Start your project and report your progress to your lecturer.

RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP

Work on projects with local Councils (students must write about their experience): i.e. surveys, assistance to the elderly, cultural activities, activities related to the environment (clean up the World program), road safety surveys, Europe’s Day (Jum il-Wirt Ewropew), conservation of neglected historical sites, competitions for the Primary Schools of the locality.

Social work: President’s Award, helping children’s homes (orphanages) Crèches, Missionary work (e.g. Palermo Project), Community radio station programs (programs related to youths, the elderly, people with special needs and other social conditions), Sedqa and other supporting groups.

Malta Government Trade services (i.e. starting a business), consumers rights project, local manufacturing establishments, Hotels and Catering establishments, How they work: Central Bank, Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Industries, Customs department, Malta International Airport, Air Malta, Malta Maritime Authority, Inland revenue, VAT department, Treasury Department, Euro department, Malta Stock Exchange, Customs department, Malta Enterprise, National statistic Office, Employment and Training Corporation, Hospital Services, Fisheries, Agriculture, Transport Authority, Theatres, and Mediterranean Conference Centre, National Orchestra, Malta Tourism Authority, Malta Shipyards etc..

Supporting evidence: Interviews, photographs, questionnaires (when possible), articles in newspapers, or other material related to the place or experience. Meeting people involved in the specialization or workers in the establishment will help students to identify their work in the project.

AESTHETICS
Painting: Any work related to painting is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify the technological aspect of the work It is highly recommended that a visit to a known artist would be part of the project and that the student is expected to take note in his journal of the problems encountered in the process of making a work of art.

Sculpture: Any work related to sculpture is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify the technological aspect of the work (It is highly recommended that a visit to a known sculptor or artist would be part of the project and that the student is expected to take note in his journal of the problems encountered in this field and explain the process of making a work of art).

Pottery: Any work related to pottery is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify the technological aspect of the work (recent technology of firing pottery, mass produced ceramic products, glazing materials, etc...It is highly suggested that the student should visit a local pottery factory and make a journal on the process of manufactured ceramic products, e.g. Bristow Potters, Alka ceramics, Potterware, Peter the Potter, etc. There are also many individual Potters/artists who would be willing to help.).

Craft: (i.e. ganutell, embroidery, tapestry, fret work, filigree –silver/gold, etc..) Any work related to craft is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify the technological aspect of the work.

Music: Any work related to music is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify the technological aspect of the work (i.e. how instruments are made, technology of sound, history of the development of the instrument, etc…).

Drama: Any work related to drama is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify the technological aspect of the work (i.e. modern design of theatres, props, lighting, scenery etc...) Any dramatic company (Manoel Theatre Group, etc.)

Dance: Any work related to dance is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify a link with technology (i.e. contemporary designs for theatre, lighting, music, scenery etc..).

Cookery: Any work related to Gastronomy (cookery) is acceptable under the condition that the student should identify the technological aspect of the work (food technology, new methods of cooking using recent technological equipment or devices, etc..).

Work in a Museum, historical site or any other artistic heritage place, or representation of object: Research work with the assistance of people in charge of the place or object (societies {archaeology society, historical society, Wirt Artna, Din l-Art Helwa, etc..} curators, guides, historians or other persons involved).

Supporting evidence: the work of art (model, painting, object), photographs, video, interviews, articles, pictures, books, or any other material related to the work.

THE ENVIRONMENT
Research work on how students could demonstrate how environmental problems could be solved by suggesting alternatives and how to minimize the effect of the heavily industrialized areas (urban or non-urban places) (Meeting with specialized people i.e. engineers, officers etc..is recommended).

The following places could be visited: Reverse Osmosis Plants, Power Stations, Recycling plants, Waste Management (Wasteserve Ltd.), engineered landfills etc..

Subjects which could be tackled: Alternative Energy, Sea, land and air pollution, Agricultural activities and alternatives, Fisheries, Waste management, industrial waste, coastal zones like beaches, sand dunes, garigue, Ghadira natural reserve etc..Wied Incita PPP embellishment projects.

Supporting evidence: interviews, photographs, models, questionnaires and surveys when possible, magazines and newspaper articles, or any other material depending on the nature of the project.

Tourism: How tourism affects the natural environment (beaches, countryside), when new hotel sites and beach concessions are approved by the Planning Authority.

Planning Authority: The workings of the Planning Authority. The Fisheries: The impact of fish-farming on the seabed.

Environmental hazards: Why the establishment of a cement factory might not be suitable for Malta (or Gozo for that matter).

Waste Management: How to boost the philosophy of the three Rs (reduce, re-use and recycle) so as to reduce the further production of waste.

Renewable Resources: The building of a device that exploits renewable sources of energy (e.g. solar waterheater) and how it works.

Renewable Energy: How renewable energy might help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and hence reduce pollution.

New Technologies: How the Ministry of the Environment works, and whether the various Government offices and departments use environment-friendly technologies.

Voluntary Service at Mater Dei

2008-10-17T21:26:00.000+02:00

Volserv is currently recruiting volunteers to work at Mater Dei Hospital. First year Systems of Knowledge students can work with Volserv for their SOK project.

Further details and online application forms can be obtained at

http://www.mrc.org.mt/page.asp?p=7122

Maltese Artists

2008-10-17T18:45:00.000+02:00

Agius Victor
Alamango Henry
Apap Julie
Bonello Carmel
Busuttil Leaver John
Caruana Dingli Debbie
Caruana Gabriel
Caruana Jeni
Casha Kevin
Cassar Joseph Paul
Ciappara Hermann
Mallia Joseph L
Mizzi Paul
Portelli Paul
Saliba Christopher
Sammut Hermine
Vella Vince
Zammit Tabona Kenneth

For the full list of Maltese artists go to: http://www.searchmalta.com/dir/Arts_And_Entertainment/Art_And_Sculpture/Maltese_Artists/index.shtml

Animal Care Groups

2008-10-16T21:28:00.000+02:00

Here are some groups to whom you can provide help through your SOK project. For more information visit the Animal Rights Malta.com site

Association for Abandoned Animals, Luqa. (Dogs) info@aaamalta.com www.aaamalta.com

Funny Farm Horse Rescue Association, Bidnija. (Horses) thefunnyfarm2006@yahoo.co.uk

Hakuna Matata Malta, Siggiewi. (Dogs) hakunamatatamalta@hotmail.com www.hakunamatatamalta.org

The Island Sanctuary Association, Marsaxlokk. (Dogs) info@islandsanctuary.com.mt www.islandsanctuary.com.mt

National Cat Society, Luqa. (Cats) csinglott@onvol.net

Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary, Mellieha. (Dogs) info@noahsarkmalta.org www.noahsarkmalta.org

SPCA Gozo, Rabat - Gozo. (Cats and dogs) info@spca-gozo.org www.spca-gozo.org

SPCA Malta, Floriana. (Cats and dogs) info@spcamalta.org www.spcamalta.org

St Francis Foundation for Animals, Birgu. (Cats) stfrancisfoundation@gmail.com www.saintfrancisfoundation.com

Learning online

2008-07-15T09:34:00.000+02:00

The Web 2.0 offers many new learning tools and sites. These are some tools and sites that I have discovered recently:

Gliffy - A free web-based diagram editor.
Zoho - Offers a suite of online web applications geared towards increasing your productivity and offering easy collaboration.
LiveJournal - A free service for your journaling and blogging.
Bebo - Allows users to share photos with music, and blogs, and draw on members' White Boards.
Worldbridges - Lets you manipulate, edit, enhance and apply filters to your digital pictures using only your web browser.
Ustream.tv - You can broadcast your own live video show for free. You only need a computer device, camera and solid Internet connection. Not bad!
Worldbridges - A community of communities that use 'homegrown webcasting' and other new media technologies to help people connect, learn, & collaborate.
EdTechTalk - A community of educators interested in discussing and learning about the uses of educational technology. They webcast several live shows each week.
WiZiQ - Free Hosted Virtual Classroom platform.
CamStudio - Free Screen Recording Software.
eSnips - Get 5GB of free space to upload and share your files, photos, videos and music.

Other popular web 2.0 learning tools include Ning (Social Networking), Second Life (3D virtual world) and Wikispaces.

Buildings in Vittoriosa

2008-04-20T19:24:00.000+02:00

This is my latest effort in photoshop.

Jackson Pollock

2008-04-02T20:22:00.001+02:00

Here's a widget with which you can create artistic pieces in Jackson Pollock's style. Thin streams are made by moving the cursor really fast. Click for a new random color. Use the space bar to reset.

Jackson Pollock by Miltos Manetasgreat free widgetsWidgetbox

Universal Freedom

2008-03-18T21:16:00.000+01:00

Whether they worked for subsistence or in order to acquire more comforts, it was not obvious that those who sold their labour for money were necessarily much freer than those who were forced to work as slaves. Many wage-earners and salaried people continued to regard their work as inherently tedious. They engaged in it for the sake of the money with which they could enjoy their leisure or future retirement. The essential pleasures of life were to be found outside work.

Wages

The wages of work is cash.
The wages of cash is want more cash.
The wages of want more cash is vicious competition.
The wages of vicious competition is — the world we live in.

The work-cash-want circle is the viciousest circle that ever turned men into fiends.

Earning a wage is a prison occupation
and a wage-earner is a sort of gaol-bird.
Earning a salary is a prison overseer's job,
a gaoler instead of a gaol-bird.

Living on your income is strolling grandly outside the prison
in terror lest you have to go in. And since the work-prison covers
almost every scrap of the living earth, you stroll up and down
on a narrow beat, about the same as a prisoner taking his exercise.

This is called universal freedom.

Web 2.0

2007-08-28T19:38:00.000+02:00

This vodcast was created by Professor Michael L. Wesch, an assistant professor of cultural anthropology at Kansas State University. This video is currently rolling around the internet in many blogs and wikis. Wesch was writing a paper about social networking and other interactive tools, which are collectively referred to as Web 2.0, when he decided to make use of the technology to spread his message. So he put together this short video with examples of Web 2.0 features, with a catchy soundtrack and rapid-fire editing, and uploaded it to YouTube, the popular video-sharing site.

Dolphin massacre in Japan

2007-02-25T17:57:00.001+01:00

Carnival

2007-02-18T19:02:00.000+01:00

It's Carnival time in Malta and the streets in Valletta become an explosion of colour and noise - the perfect setting for the avid photographer. Though the sky was already grey when I arrived in Valletta, and the camera begged for more light, I managed to capture some moments of the frenzy and celebrations that filled Republic Street.