Football Festival raises awareness about inclusion

Young footballers came together on Sunday, 15 April, for the third edition of The Come Together Football Festival, organised by Sliema Wanderers FC Nursery and The Inspire Foundation. The annual football festival aims to promote inclusion in our society through sports. The festival was also visited by the President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.

Almost 300 young players participated in the football festival, held at The Sliema Wanderers FC Training Complex at Tigne Point, Sliema. Contributions were made on the day, all of which was donated to The Inspire Foundation.

Thirty-two teams from the Under 7, Under 8s and Under 9s categories from nurseries all over Malta participated in this event. Nurseries that gave their support were from Balzan, Fgura, Swieqi, Kirkop, Birkirkara, Valletta, Lija/Iklin, Mtarfa, Melita, Sliema, Zabbar and Tarxien.

"I want to show my appreciation to these children today for celebrating the important concept of inclusion. It is of utmost importance that from a young age, we are aware that each and every one of us has a place in society. It is thanks to organisations like Inspire Foundation, that work tirelessly to promote inclusion and provide services to people with a disability, that we can have an inclusive society,” said the President of Malta MarieLouise Coleiro Preca.

“It was indeed our Nursery’s pleasure to offer its facilities and help in the organisation of this festival. We give great importance to such initiatives as they fall within our social responsibilities. The Come Together Football Festival, in aid of Inspire, helped raise awareness, was a means of generating funds and continued to install in our children values that will serve them well as they grow older,” said Stephen Azzopardi, Technical director at Sliema Wanderers FC.

Inspire Foundation is a local NGO that works with people with intellectual and physical disability, helping them reach their full potential in life. It provides educational, therapeutic and leisure services free of charge or at a highly subsidised rate. It also works to raise awareness about inclusion and acceptance.

The festival also formed part of April Autism Month, during which Inspire Foundation is raising awareness about the Autism Spectrum. At present, Inspire Foundation helps around 250 people with Autism through several programmes. These include Step Early Years, Step Middle Years, Style, Step Outreach Programme, School Outreach Programme and our Adult Programme.

The Inspire Foundation expresses its gratitude towards Sliema Wanderers FC Nursery for the organisation of this festival and to all participants for contributing towards the work of the Foundation.