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Rabat’s majestic Dar Saura will be transformed into an empowerment centre for children and young people with disabilities 65 years after the Archdiocese of Malta handed over the multi-million euro property to the Malta Trust.
“Until a few months ago, this 17th century house was used as a retirement home. It will be filled with the laughter and music of young people when Malta’s first music and arts centre, Villa Bianca, relocates to larger premises to address a large waiting list,” the Holy See said.
The Archdiocese today held a signing ceremony in the presence of Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna and Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, president of the Malta Trust, to hand over the €25 million, 5,500 square metre property.
“The best use of Church property is to use it for social purposes, especially to help those who are most in need of support. It is my hope that under the Malta Trust, Dar Saura will become a state-of-the-art centre that will enable children and young people with disabilities to develop their skills and discover and develop their full potential through music and the arts,” the Archbishop said.
The Grade I listed building will be provided to the Trust in the form of a non-repayable loan (on a housing basis) which will use EU and public funds to restore and upgrade the home, including the restoration of the chapel dedicated to St Nicholas.
The property, which has been converted at a cost of approximately €10 million, can be refurbished to accommodate a variety of events without adversely affecting its Class A status.
Colero Preca called the agreement a historic moment that would make Malta a hub in the Mediterranean for young people who, due to poor backgrounds or disabilities, have difficulty fulfilling their potential.
“This is a landmark agreement and we are deeply moved by the church’s act of mercy. My dream is to see this center become a one-stop shop for families to see their children with disabilities thrive; a place where they can grow, develop abilities and be empowered to go out into the world. This will show that each of God’s creations has a purpose,” said Colero Preca.
When the Ta’ Saura Empowerment Centre opens in two years’ time, it will be able to provide a safe space for up to 500 children and young people to explore the healing power of music, dance and art under the guidance of experts.
The estate’s vast grounds will also enable the foundation to build an occupational therapy centre, a social enterprise, multi-purpose training hall, a petting farm and a multi-sensory room. Eventually, the plan is to provide studio apartments for foreign music therapists and professionals working at the centre to live in, as well as workshop spaces.
We will open a family-friendly cafeteria and restaurant run exclusively by young people with disabilities or behavioural difficulties.
This is the second time in five years that the Archdiocese of Malta has donated property to help NGOs that make a real difference to people’s lives. In 2019, the Archbishop handed over church premises, the Adelaide Cini Institute in Santa Venera, to Hospice Malta. The property will be used to build St Michael’s Hospice, the first state-of-the-art integrated facility providing all-round palliative care, which is now nearing completion.
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