Valletta - A Gem on the Maltese Islands

Valletta – Malta’s Capital City; a place which is not only of historical importance to the Maltese people, but also a gem where the past intertwines with the present and paves the way for the future. 

Upon entering the grand city, one cannot help but notice the amazing architecture located all over the city; the modern buildings neighboring traditional architecture creating the impression of temporal continuity.  Moreover, Valletta offers a rich sensorial experience with its myriad of sights, sounds and scents.  Constantly busy, one cannot help but intake the delicious aroma of freshly prepared Maltese dishes and savories while wandering the streets of Valletta.  Moreover, the capital city hosts a vast collection of venues to suit everyone’s tastes. 

All of the major tourist attractions and other places of interest in our capital city were chosen by six members of Equal Partners Foundation to be featured in a Valletta Guidebook.  This guidebook is an-easy to read and visually coded handbook which is readily accessible to other individuals with learning difficulties and which will be made available for all via a mobile application and through an EU website.

The guidebook was put together as part of the Turisti Non Per Caso project which is an EU-funded, Youth in Action project in conjunction with other NGOs from Italy, Hungary and the Czech Republic.  The project emphasizes active citizenship by persons with learning disabilities within the European Union.  Therefore participants from four European countries were recruited to work on an easy-to-read guidebook about their respective cities; Valletta, Venice, Prague and Budapest. Equal Partners are proud to have supported the editors in the creation os such a handbook.

The launch of these travel guides will be held on Wednesday 7^th May at the Archeological Museum.  The launch saw the generous support of the Ministry of Tourism and the Valletta Local Council.  It was also kindly sponsored by the Malta Experience, Darrell Foods Ltd, Delicata Winemakers, Farsons, Sphinx St. Venera and Heritage Malta who have benevolently hosted the venue.   

The 1000 Miles of Luca

"At that moment, I lost consciousness, 

I simply fainted.

And what I remember is that I woke up and cried.

I cried, I cried, I cried...

I think I cried two days in a row."

The story of Pablo and Luca Poncini; father and son living in Argentina.  When approached to do a campaign including special needs children, the advertising executive, Pablo Poncini, decided to make it personal.  He talked about his son and his initial reaction when learning his son had Down Syndrome.  

The video takes us through the road trip the pair took through the spectacular Patagonia mountains.  Portraying their quality time, Luca and Pablo send a wonderful message; that children with Down Syndrome may seem different, but to their parents they are like any other child. 

http://vimeo.com/84061549